Prevalence of helminth parasites in some commercially important fish species of River anambra
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Zoological Society of Nigeria
Abstract
The demand for fish as a source of protein is on the increase. However,
sustainable productivity by fish farmers is constrained by parasitic infections.
Thus, an investigation was conducted on the prevalence of helminth parasites in
some commercially important fish species of River Anambra, Nigeria. A total of
521 fishes belonging to 6 families (Claroteidae, Synodontidae, Mormyridae,
Osteoglossidae, Bagridae, and Clariidae) and 20 species caught with hooks, nets,
and local traps were examined using standard parasitological techniques. The
overall prevalence was 23.80%. Fish samples belonging to 6 families had the
following prevalence of infection: Bagridae (0.00%), Clariidae (2.11 %),
Claroteidae (1.53%), Mormyridae (0.0%), Osteoglossidae (14.97%) and
Synodontidae (5.18%). Helminth parasites recovered were: Weyonia species
(4.65%), Weyonia youdeowii (15.97%), Weyonia synodontis (3.33%), Sandonella
sandoni (37.41%), Polyonchobothrium clarias (17.98 %), Plerocercoid larva
(13.33%) and unidentified cestode (35.47%) (Cestoda); Emoleptalea species
(4.65%) (Trematoda); Procamallanus laeviconchus (2.72%), Dujardinascaris
species (1.36%), Spirocamallanus species (3.99%) (Nematoda);
Neoechinorhynchus species (24.61%), Tenuisentis niloticus (34.62%) and
unidentified acanthocephalan (6.25%) (Acanthocephala). Weyonia species,
Weyonia youdeoweii, and W. synodontis were recovered from synodontids only.
Acanthocephalan, cestodes, nematodes and trematodes were found in decreasing
order of abundance. The presence of trematode Emoleptalea sp in Clarias
gariepinus is a new host record of the parasite for the geographical area.
Description
Keywords
Helminth, parasites, Prevalence, river Anambra
Citation
Helminth parasites, fish, Anambra river