Nematodes and Metacestodes in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) benefited in Cajamarca – 2023

Abstract

The research was conducted in the province of Cajamarca and in the Veterinary Physiology, Parasitology, and Parasitic Diseases laboratories of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the National University of Cajamarca, Peru. The objective was to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites, specifically nematodes and metacestodes, in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) raised in the province of Cajamarca during the year 2023. A total of 82 gastrointestinal tracts and associated organs from domestic rabbits sacrificed at various locations in Cajamarca city were examined, without consideration of age, weight, sex, or breed. Upon arrival at the laboratory, the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine were separated and tied at their ends. The contents of each digestive tract section were emptied separately through a series of sieves with mesh sizes of 40, 60, and 80 threads per inch for washing and separation. Parasites retained on the sieves were identified and collected based on size criteria. Parasites were classified through direct observation according to morphological characteristics and taxonomic parasitology tables. The prevalence of nematodes was 43.90 % (36/82), with a confidence interval ranging from 33.16 % to 54.64 %, while the prevalence of metacestodes was 65.85 % (54/82), with a confidence interval from 55.59 % to 76.11 %.