Assessment of Fungi Infection on Clarias anguillaris (Linnaeus, 1758) and Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), Two Fish Species Farmed in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Worlwide, fungi are by far the most common pathogen in fish farming. They are responsible of important economic losses in the fishery sector. However, in Burkina Faso knowledge of fungi infecting farmed fish are scarce. As a consequence, the prevalence as well as the effect of these pathogens are not known. A study was carried out on fungal infection of farmed fish. It aimed to evaluate the diversity of fungi associated with Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Clarias anguillaris (Linnaeus, 1758) farmed in Burkina Faso. In total, 89 individuals of fish consisted of 47 specimens of Oreochromis niloticus and 42 specimens of Clarias anguillaris were collected from eleven fish farms. Swabs were taken on fish bodies and inoculated in Malt Extract Agar (MEA). The chloramphenicol was added to avoid bacterial contamination. Seventy-seven (77) fish were infected by fungi (85.51%). Four genera including Aspergillus (four species), Rhizopus (one species), Penicillium (one species) and Mucor (one species) were isolated. Small and big fish were all infected. This study shows fungi as a potential factor that impacts fish farming and suggests a need for more research on their effect on fish. Knowledge of fish parasites like fungi will allow to set effective means of fish pathology control, which once implemented will lead to an increase in fish farming productivity.