6. Intestinal Parasites of the Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck 1827) from the Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

The profiles of intestinal parasites of the grasscutter were investigated in 21 grasscutters collected from
Kwaebibirem District in the Eastern Region of Ghana between January and April 2005. The aim of the study
was to investigate the parasitic profile of the grasscutter in a forest zone and provide information for grasscutter farming. The intestinal content of the animals were examined with the aid of a hand lens, a microscope and direct smear method. The parasites identified include helminthes such as Ancylostoma sp., Trichuris sp., Ascaris sp., Hymenolepis sp. and Schistosoma haematobium, and protozoans such as Giardia sp. and Entamoeba sp. Almost all (95.2%) of the grasscutters were infected with Ancylostoma sp., the most prevalent parasite species in the study, followed by Giardia sp. (85.7%). More than 80% of the grasscutters were infected with at least four parasite species and 33% were infected with at least five parasite species. The study, therefore, prescribes routine treatment of grasscutters obtained from the wild before they are domesticated or added to the already domesticated ones. This will help prevent reduced productivity due to parasitic infections.