Prevalence and Diversity of Helminths Fauna in Fishes of Ogun River, Nigeria doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v4i8.13

Abstract

In aquaculture, some parasites are highly pathogenic and contribute to high fish mortalities and economic losses. Prevalence of helminths parasite in fishes of Ogun River at Lafenwa, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria was investigated. Commercially available fish samples with a total of 91 fish samples from three families ―Channidae, Claridae and Cichlidae‖ were examined. Gut contents were cut into parts in 0.9% normal saline, parasites movement were noticed, picked and counted before fixing in 70% alcohol for preservation. Each organism was cleared in xylene before being mounted in Canada balsam to be observed under the microscope and identified. Prevalence of parasitic infection among the fish species was statistically determined. Helminths identified were Clinostomum complanatum, Spirocamallanus spiralis, Contracaecum multipapillatum and larva of Neoechinorhynchus species. Male fish species had
higher intensity of infection than the female with higher concentration in the intestine > stomach > gills. Intensity of the infection was higher in H. bimaculatus (2.00 ± 0.00) > P. obscura (1.60 ± 0.16) > O. niloticus (1.53 ± 0.13) > T. zillii (1.38 ± 0.13) > C. gariepinus (1.33 ± 0.14) >T. mariae (1.25 ± 0.16). The study showed that helminths parasitic infection remains the same in different fish hosts once infected and their prevalence was higher in Cichlidae.