Abstract
The study was carried out using 328 Clarias gariepinus specimens over a period of two years, from Oba reservoir (08°3'N to 08°12'N and 004°6'E to 004°12'E) Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Standard methods were used to determine length-weight relationship, condition factor, and enteroparasitic infestation of the fish in the reservoir. Generally, Fish growth was positively allometric, while infested male and female fishes had negative allometric growth. The general well-being of the male fish was better than that of the female fish. Smaller sized fishes were better adapted to the ecological conditions of the reservoir than the bigger fishes. Parasites recovered were two Nematodes (Procamallanus laevionchus, Paracamallanus cyathopharynx), three Cestodes (Anomotaenia sp. Monobothrium sp., Polyonchobothrium clariae), and one Acanthocephalan (Neoechinorhynchus rutili). Sex ratio was 1.3:1 (male: female). Parasitic prevalence and intensity in the fish were sex and season dependent. The effect of enteroparasites in the life of infested C. gariepinus was found to probably be a major factor responsible for the low percentage of good fit to the line of regression (R2) in females. Infestation also led to loss of weight in infested fishes and this affected morphometric values in which body weight was an index.
Highlights
Oba reservoir is one of the thirteen reservoirs and lakes in Oyo state Nigeria [1]
This study investigates aspects of morphometric indices and enteroparasitic infestation of C. gariepinus and determines how the infestation affects the morphometric values of the fish
Monobothrium sp., Polyonchobothrium clariae and Neoechinorhynchus rutili in Oba reservoir was found to reduce the growth in weight of the fish
Summary
Oba reservoir is one of the thirteen reservoirs and lakes in Oyo state Nigeria [1]. It sustains a thriving artisanal fisheries industry and serves as a source of domestic water for the citizens of Ogbomoso North and South local governments. It is based on the hypothesis that heavier fishes of a particular length are in a better physiological condition [5]. It provides information on the well-being of a fish and is usually influenced by the fish, sex, season, maturity stage, etc. A high condition factor reflects good environmental quality; while a low condition factor reflects poor environmental quality [7]
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