Parasite prevalence in Bagrus filamentosus and Citharinus citharus from lower River Benue, Makurdi

Abstract

Objective: To determine the parasite prevalence in Bagrus filamentosus (B. filamentosus) and Citharinus citharus (C. citharus) from lower River Benue in Makurdi. Methods: A total of 100 specimens each of both B. filamentosus and C. citharus were collected from River Benue, Makurdi, Nigeria and were examined for parasites after measuring basic morphometric parameters. Results: A total of 198 parasitic organisms comprising Eustrongylides africanus (nematode), Diphyllobothrium latum (cestode), Microsporidium sp. (fungi) and Clinostomum complanatum (trematode) were isolated and identified in B. filamentosus while 16 parasitic trematode (Clinostomum complanatum) were found in C. citharus. There was high correlation between total parasites and length as well as weight of the sample (r = 0.945 and r = 0.727 respectively). Conclusions: The result suggests that carnivorous/omnivorous fish species harbor more heterogeneous communities of parasites than herbivorous species do. This implies that the feeding habit is a major factor associated with parasitic infestation.