Gastro-intestinal parasites of Hyperopisus bebe occidentalis (gunther, 1866) in river Galma at Dakace Zaria

Abstract

Parasitic disease is considered among the limiting factors in freshwater fish production. Fish is a cheaper source of animal protein available to the people thus, the need to control parasites that affect their productivity. Three hundred and twenty (320) Hyperopisus bebe occidentalis obtained from River Galma at Dakace, Zaria between August, 2016 and February, 2017 were examined for gastro-intestinal helminths using the formal-ether concentration techniques. Results obtained showed that 124 (38.8%) fish examined were infected by the acanthocephalan Rhadinorhynchus horridus and no other helminthes were recovered. The worms recovered were mainly from the small and large intestines, with the mid-intestine accounting for the greatest number of parasites with 90.74%. There was a general increase in infestation with increase in size of fish and there was no significant difference between the infections of male and female fish.