Cryptosporidium in Wild Frogs ( Rana spp ) Consumed by humans in Kaduna State Nigeria

Objective To evaluate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium species in edible frogs ( Rana spp) sold at the Hanwa frog market Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Introduction Since Cryptosporidium can be transmitted by ingestion of infected food animals and poorly treated water and by direct contact 1 it is possible for infection to occur through ingestion of under cooked frogs and through handling and processing of infected frogs. In Burkina Faso frogs caught are sold to market-women who treat the frogs by emptying their bowels and frying in oil before selling them, this is not always the case for the Nigerian frog markets where frogs are sometimes smoked or dried without necessarily been fried, before consumption 2 . This may pose a health risk for transmission of cryptosporidiosis from infected frogs. Presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in frogs may by implication reveal the Cryptosporidium status of water bodies from various sources where the frogs were caught. Water management programmes for treatment of Cryptosporidium is difficult as the oocyst is resistant to several disinfectants including chlorine 1 . The consumption of such treated water in urban areas and untreated water in most rural communities may expose a great proportion of Nigerians to cryptosporidiosis. Owing to the number of HIV/AIDS patients who commonly suffer from cryptosporidial enteritis and cough, the control of cryptosporidiosis in animals and man is of public health significance. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April, 2016 using intestinal contents from wild captured Rana species of frogs (n=117), sourced from 8 different locations, from the frog central collection, sales and processing point at Hanwa in Zaria. The intestinal contents from the frogs were examined by staining flotation and sedimentation smears with modified Ziehl-Neelsen stains followed by microscopy and micrometry of the oocysts. Results Overall, 35.9% of frogs sampled from the Hanwa frog market were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. There were more Cryptosporidium oocysts detected by sedimentation test (28.2%) than flotation test (23.9%). Although there was no significant statistical association between sex of frogs and oocyst detection ( χ 2 =0.5349, p>0.05); sex wise, female frogs (40%) and frogs within the weight range 170-219g were more infected with Cryptosporidium (66.7%). Oocysts size ranging between 6.10 μ m -7.00 μ m, had the highest frequency of 10 (23.8%). By size 28.2% of the oocysts detected suggest infection with C. parvum and C. maleagridis . Conclusions We present the first report of Cryptosporidium oocysts in wild edible frogs ( Rana spp) sold at the Hanwa frog market Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Frog consumption is on the increase in Nigeria, but baseline information on associated zoonoses is rare. A cross-sectional study conducted between February and April, 2016 using intestinal contents from wild captured frogs (n=117), sourced from 8 different locations using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stains and micrometry revealed 35.9% were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Of the oocysts detected 28.2% suggest infection with C. parvum and C. maleagridis, this may constitute a health risk for humans.