THE PREVALENCE OF HAEMOPARASITES OF ANURANS IN AN URBAN HABITAT OF KOTA SAMARAHAN, SARAWAK, MALAYSIAN BORNEO

The prevalence of haemoparasites was investigated in Anurans from the urban area of Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia. A total of 120 urban Anura individuals belonging to six species (Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Fejervarya limnocharis, Polypedates leucomystax, Chalcorana raniceps, Haplobatrachus rugulosus, and Kaloula pulchra) were collected from 12 sites in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. The selected sampling site was close to the housing and dumping area. Approximately 22.5% of individuals of anurans were infected with haemoparasites. Three species of haemoparasites were identified: Trypanosoma sp. (7.5%), Lankesterella sp. (5%), and Hepatozoon sp. (10%). Duttaphrynus melanostictus (44.5%) had the highest infection rate among the six anura species, with all three haemoparasites present, followed by C. raniceps (22.2%), F. limnocharis (18.5%), and K. pulchra (14.8%). No haemoparasites were recorded in P. leucomystax and H. rugulosus. This study indicates that multiple haemoparasites species can infect anurans and thus potentially become zoonotic pathogens that can be transmitted to humans. Therefore, measures should be taken to safeguard these anuran species against these haemoparasites, as their transmission to people may pose a risk to public health. Local communities should be careful and keep their settlement environment clean to reduce the risk of infectious diseases for the health and well-being of the population.