Prevalence of human edible crabs infected with Paragonimus Uterobilateralis Metacercariae in southeastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at determining the seasonalityof relative abundance of human edible crab, Sudanautescaught from their natural habitats, and those sold for human consumption in local markets in endemic areas of South-eastern Nigeria, to assess their infection rate with P. uterobilateralis metacercariae. Crabs were caught from their natural habitat as well as bought from the market over a period of 12 months; they were then and examined in the laboratory for infection with metacercariae. The prevalence of metacercarial infection of the crabs in both groups showed no seasonal variation but oscillated throughout the year. In all, 151 (6.9%) of the crabs caught were infected with Paragonimus metacercariae. The monthly percentage of total infected crabs exhibited seasonality as the relative abundance, being relatively higher in the dry season months; peaking in the month of September but lowest in January. The monthly percentage of total infected crabs was higher than the percentage of crabs caught in five months June, September, November, February, and May. There is need for innovative measures to discourage the local population from eating improperly cooked crabs so as to curb the epidemiological dangers of eating infected crabs.