Occurrence of ectoparasites on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from South Sulawesi Lakes, and Aquaculture facility

Abstract

Nile tilapia, whether cultivated or living in the wild, is susceptible to various parasite’ infection. A parasitology investigation was conducted to identify parasites of Nile tilapia in Lakes and from aquaculture facilities. The fish examined from aquaculture facility in Bantaeng has a total length of 15 to 20 cm (n= 30) and the hybrid-tilapia from a mini hatchery consist of three groups of fish size. Fish from Towuti Lake range from 7.0 to 21.8 cm in total length (n= 35), and the fish from Tempe Lake range from 10 to 16 cm in total length (n= 40). Parasites found from Nile tilapia in Tempe Lake were monogenean: Cichlidogyrus spp. and Scutogyrus longicornis, and Crustacea; Argulus indicus. Parasites found from Aquaculture facility in Bantaeng were Trichodina magna, Gyrodactylus cichlidarum, Cichlidogyrus spp. and S. longicornis. Trichodinids from Nile tilapia in Towuti Lake were Paratrichodina sp., T. heterodentata, Trichodinella sp., and Tripartiella sp. Parasites found from red hybrid tilapia were Trichodina spp., Cichlidogyrus spp., and G. cichlidarum. The prevalence and mean intensity of the parasite’s infection were discussed. In this study, we present for the first time the presence of some genera of Trichodinids in Nile tilapia in Towuti Lake.