Tick Infestation of Pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in Omo Forest Reserve Ogun State Nigeria

Abstract

Seven pangolins ( Phataginus tricuspis ) were trapped using active tracking at nights (from 21:00-03:00 hrs.) and straight line transects (1.8 km) method on foot with spotlights. Forceps were used to randomly remove adult ticks from the skin of each pangolin. The tick samples were preserved with 5% formalin in 25 ml capacity universal tubes. Blood samples were collected into EDTA sample bottles for hematology through caudal venipuncture. The study identified Aponomma sp. of ticks from the samples collected. The mean values of PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC and Total Protein were 36.33+10.00, 12.17+3.32, 5.82+1.68, 46.33±13.31and 8.14+0.17 respectively, while the mean values of the morphometric parameters of the sampled pangolin species were 1.47±0.65, 76.71±14.86 and 48.86±12.80 for body weight (kg), total length (cm) and tail length (cm) respectively. The results showed that pangolins in the Omo Forest Reserve were infested with the tick species Aponomma sp., however, hematological values obtained were within the normal range for healthy pangolins.