Affiliation:
1. University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago; University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
2. University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
Abstract
Abstract The agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) is a rodent that is found in the Neo-tropical region. This animal is hunted for its meat but has recently been reared in captivity as a source of meat protein in rural communities. A 20-month experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of an anthelmintic on the reproductive performance of the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) reared in captivity. This experiment was conducted in the humid tropics of Trinidad and Tobago. Sixteen animals (15 females, 1 male) placed in each of the two treatment groups in a completely randomized study design. In treatment 1 (T1) animals were given subcutaneous injections of Endovet Ces® (Ivermectin/Praziquantel) at 0.2 mg/kg every three months. Treatment 2 (T2) was the negative control group where animals were not exposed to an anthelmintic. Reproductive data were collected at parturition which included birth weight, litter weight, litter size and gender of offspring. The results showed that there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) between the treatment groups with respect to birth weight, litter weight, litter size and gender. However, agoutis that were dewormed had a higher birth weight (220.24 g vs 209.1 g) and litter weight (369.8 g vs 343 g). The same values were obtained for the litter size (1.7 vs 1.7) and animals that were dewormed had a higher female offspring to male offspring (2.41:1 vs 1.11:1). This experiment demonstrated that the use of an anthelmintic strategically in the management of captive reared agoutis had no statistical effect (p > 0.05) on the reproductive parameters. Therefore, these animals can be kept in captive conditions without being dewormed and produce efficiently with proper feeding and housing management.
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Reference33 articles.
1. A Critical review and meta-analysis of the magnitude of the effect of anthelminthic use on Stocker Calf production parameters in Northern US;BALTZELL P.;Veterinary Parasitology,2015
2. Conceptualisation of an intensive production model for the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) a neotropical rodent in Trinidad, West Indies;BROWN-UDDENBERG R.C.,2001
3. The Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina, D. agouti) Booklet and Production Manual;BROWN-UDDENBERG R.,2004
4. Studies on the endoparasitic fauna of Trinidad mammals;CAMERON T.W.M.;Canadian Journal of Zoology,1951
5. Gastrointestinal parasites of the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina);DA SILVA M.K.;Ciência Animal Brasileira,2008
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献