Author(s):

Djomnang Nkwala AL, Chahdini Gbambie A, Mpoame Mbida and Wabo Poné J

Abstract: House geckos (genus Hemidactylus) are small tropical lizards. Like all vertebrates, house geckos are susceptible to habour parasites which are vectors of some pathogenic agents. Between transition periods end of rainy season (September) and the start of dry season (December)] in 2014, a total of 240 geckos were caught in Dschang in the night using a broom and introduced into a plastic bucket. The bucket was immediately transported to the laboratory and the geckos examined for ecto and gastrointestinal parasites. An overall prevalence of 98.34% was recorded for ectoparasite infestations. Two (2) different genera of ectoparasites were identified: 98.34% Argas (Argasidae) and 24.17% Rhipicephalus (Ixodidae). The start of dry season was more favorable for the development of ectoparasites. Parasitism was not influenced by host sex. The infestation intensities were significantly (P<0.05) higher in adults (108.5 ± 98.31) than in juveniles (53.90 ± 79.22). The two genera of ticks identified infested all parts of the host. Ectoparasites were frequently found in sites with cutaneous folds or high numbers of scales. It is known that, ticks of the 2 genera identified are susceptible to feed on humans, in the absence of the natural host. For gastrointestinal parasites 2 species of nematodes [Pharyngodon laevicauda (63.30%) and Parapharyngodon anomalus (04.67%)] and one species of cestode [Oochoristica jonnesi (32.01%)] were identified. Male geckos suffered a higher gastointestinal parasitic pressure. Adult hosts were more infested than juveniles with prevalences of 25.00% and 12.99% respectively. The large intestine was the most exploited site for the nematodes (31.66%) while the cestode preferred the small intestine. The presence of the above mentioned parasites in the house gecko constitutes new host records.

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