Comparative Study On The Endo-Parasitic Infestation In Clarias Gariepinus Collected From Earthen And Concrete Ponds In Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to collect and identify endoparasites of Clarias gariepinus from earthen and concrete ponds, Victory Fish Farm, Makurdi, and to determine the prevalence and intensity of infestation brought about by the endoparasites in the hosts. Of the eighty (80) Clarias gariepinus from earthen pond, 32 (40%) were not infested while 48 (60%) were infested and were observed to harbor a total of 62 endo-parasites belonging to two species of nematode (Eustrongylides and Camallanus), and two species of protozoa (Hexamita and Trypanosoma) while out of the 80 Clarias gariepinus from the concrete, it was observed that 64 (80%) of the fish were not infested while 16 (20%) were infested by endo-parasites and were observed to harbour a total of 24 endo-parasites belonging to two species of nematode (Eustrongylides and Camallanus) and one species of protozoa (Hexamita). It was observed that male fish from the earthen pond had more percentage parasitic infestation (64.29%) than the female fish (57.69%) while in the concrete pond, female fish had more percentage parasitic infestation (22.73%) than the male (16.67%). It was observed that bigger fishes of weight class between 750-849g were more infested than the smaller counterpart of less than (149g) from both ponds. In the earthen pond, the highest percentage intensity of infestation (0.83%) was recorded in fish with the weight class between 750-849g while the lowest was recorded in fish with weight class between 250-349g. on the other hand, the highest percentage intensity of infestation (0.42%) was recorded in fish with the weight class between 750- 849g while the lowest was recorded in fish with weight class less than 149g.