Environmental change and disease dynamics
https://doi.org/10.4314/njpar.v41i2.1
Keywords:
nematodes, digeneans, monogeneans, cestodes, pentastomids, amphibians, anthropogenic activitiesAbstract
I will start by taking a quick look at the natural ecosystem. A natural ecosystem is a community where the biotic and abiotic components interact together as a unit through biological, physical and chemical processes. Among these components exists
a delicate balance, which from time to time may be altered by natural causes (floods, droughts, wild fires, earthquakes, etc.) or by anthropogenic activities (including deforestation, agriculture, pollution, urbanization, etc.).
In the course of our research we have used amphibians as models in investigating host-parasite relationships in various biotopes (freshwater swamps and creeks, brackish water (mangrove), rainforest, and the savannahs) in Nigeria and elsewhere in West
Africa. I know that many of us may not be too familiar with amphibians, but we have found them excellent models in parasitological studies. Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates. They exhibit a biphasic mode of life, living both on land and in the aquatic environment. They are diverse in shape, size, colour, vocal performance and breeding patterns [Figures 1 A-F]. They are considered
excellent indicators of environmental health. They serve as definitive hosts to a variety of parasites, including, protozoans, helminths (cestodes, monogeneans, digeneans and nematodes), acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms) an pentastomids (tongue worms).
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