Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in Ghana

Anthropogenic activities, such as hunting wild animals for food, increase the risk of zoonotic transmission of infective stages of parasites to humans. The handling, processing and consumption of wild animal meat, popularly known as ‘bushmeat’, as well as exposure to wildlife habitats, can pose a si...

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Main Authors: Joanita Asirifi Yeboah, Winnifred Offih-Kyei, Caleb Kobina Danso-Coffie, Emmanuel Boafo, Philip Banahene, Rhoda Yeboah, Godfred Futagbi, Langbong Bimi, Daniel Oduro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424001019
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author Joanita Asirifi Yeboah
Winnifred Offih-Kyei
Caleb Kobina Danso-Coffie
Emmanuel Boafo
Philip Banahene
Rhoda Yeboah
Godfred Futagbi
Langbong Bimi
Daniel Oduro
author_facet Joanita Asirifi Yeboah
Winnifred Offih-Kyei
Caleb Kobina Danso-Coffie
Emmanuel Boafo
Philip Banahene
Rhoda Yeboah
Godfred Futagbi
Langbong Bimi
Daniel Oduro
author_sort Joanita Asirifi Yeboah
collection DOAJ
description Anthropogenic activities, such as hunting wild animals for food, increase the risk of zoonotic transmission of infective stages of parasites to humans. The handling, processing and consumption of wild animal meat, popularly known as ‘bushmeat’, as well as exposure to wildlife habitats, can pose a significant risk to human health through the transfer of parasitic infective stages. This study sought to assess the enteric helminth parasite burden and potentially zoonotic helminths in fresh, wild animal carcasses being processed for food. Parasitological analysis of samples of rectal and intestinal contents collected from a total of fifty (50) wild animal carcasses belonging to eight (8) different species at the Atwemonom Bushmeat Market in Kumasi showed nine (9) genera of enteric helminth parasites with an overall prevalence of 71.0%. Individual parasite species prevalence was assessed, with Ascaris sp. showing 25% and 87.5% by coprological and molecular assessment, respectively. Molecular analysis showed a higher parasite species prevalence in all samples analyzed. Species-specific analysis indicated the presence of two potentially zoonotic parasites, Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura, in wild animals, indicating the need to intensify one health approach in wild animal parasitic infections. Data from this study suggest that wild animals in addition to being natural hosts, may also serve as reservoirs for numerous parasites of medical and veterinary importance.
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spelling doaj-art-2ba0ca8d515d4c2bafa8bf5dbab571612025-08-20T02:39:27ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442024-12-012510100510.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101005Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in GhanaJoanita Asirifi Yeboah0Winnifred Offih-Kyei1Caleb Kobina Danso-Coffie2Emmanuel Boafo3Philip Banahene4Rhoda Yeboah5Godfred Futagbi6Langbong Bimi7Daniel Oduro8Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, South Legon Drive, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, South Legon Drive, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, South Legon Drive, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, South Legon Drive, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, South Legon Drive, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, J.K.M, Hodasi Rd, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Corresponding author.Anthropogenic activities, such as hunting wild animals for food, increase the risk of zoonotic transmission of infective stages of parasites to humans. The handling, processing and consumption of wild animal meat, popularly known as ‘bushmeat’, as well as exposure to wildlife habitats, can pose a significant risk to human health through the transfer of parasitic infective stages. This study sought to assess the enteric helminth parasite burden and potentially zoonotic helminths in fresh, wild animal carcasses being processed for food. Parasitological analysis of samples of rectal and intestinal contents collected from a total of fifty (50) wild animal carcasses belonging to eight (8) different species at the Atwemonom Bushmeat Market in Kumasi showed nine (9) genera of enteric helminth parasites with an overall prevalence of 71.0%. Individual parasite species prevalence was assessed, with Ascaris sp. showing 25% and 87.5% by coprological and molecular assessment, respectively. Molecular analysis showed a higher parasite species prevalence in all samples analyzed. Species-specific analysis indicated the presence of two potentially zoonotic parasites, Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura, in wild animals, indicating the need to intensify one health approach in wild animal parasitic infections. Data from this study suggest that wild animals in addition to being natural hosts, may also serve as reservoirs for numerous parasites of medical and veterinary importance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424001019Wild animalsBushmeatEnteric parasitesPrevalenceAnd zoonotic potential
spellingShingle Joanita Asirifi Yeboah
Winnifred Offih-Kyei
Caleb Kobina Danso-Coffie
Emmanuel Boafo
Philip Banahene
Rhoda Yeboah
Godfred Futagbi
Langbong Bimi
Daniel Oduro
Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in Ghana
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Wild animals
Bushmeat
Enteric parasites
Prevalence
And zoonotic potential
title Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in Ghana
title_full Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in Ghana
title_fullStr Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in Ghana
title_short Assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in Ghana
title_sort assessment of enteric helminth parasites in bushmeat in ghana
topic Wild animals
Bushmeat
Enteric parasites
Prevalence
And zoonotic potential
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424001019
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