Parasites associated with Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) from dam, plastic and concrete ponds in Bauchi metropolis, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Chukwunonso Uche Udechukwu,Inusa Danladi Sunday,Fatima Adeola Bello,Sam Mao Panda

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2018.2.2.0003

Chukwunonso Uche Udechukwu, Inusa Danladi Sunday + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2018.2.2.0003

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Abstract

Fish farming is an economic venture to make up the supply of human need of animal protein. Parasitic infections are some of the factors hindering high fish productivity in fish farms. Parasites associated with Clarias gariepinus were detected in Bauchi metropolis. A total of eighteen fishes were sampled, comprising of 6 plastic pond fish, 6 concrete pond fish and 6 dam fish were examined for parasite infestation. The fins, gills and skin of the fishes were examined for ectoparasites, while the lining of the gut lumen and gut contents were examined for endoparasites. Four parasitic species were encountered, these include, 2 protozoan: Trichodina spp., Ichthyophthiriusmultifilis, and 2 Helminthes (cestodes): Diphyllobothrium dendriticum, Diphyllobothrium latum. Ichthyophthirus muftifilis were the most common parasites found in dam and pond samples examined. Of the eighteen examined, 5(27.8%) were infected. The infection rate constitutes 16.7% of the total parasite encountered for fishes in pond and 50% of fishes in dam. Among the body parts of the sampled fishes from the pond, the gill 16.7% and fins 16.7% had the same percentage of parasite per location, while skin had 16.7% and also the intestine 33.3% had the highest percentage per location of the fish sampled from the dam. The collection comprises of different sizes of the total length, 19cm-48cm and also between 150-750g. Bigger fishes had more parasites than smaller ones. The ectoparasites encountered were found on the skin, fins and gills, whereas the small intestine was site for all the endoparasites recovered.

Highlights

Fish is a cheap and important source of protein and contains calcium, lipids, minerals, vitamins and oils
Out of the samples from the Gubi dam, 16.7% was infected with Ichthyopthirus multifiliis, an ectoparasite found on the skin, 16.7% was infected with Diphylobothrium dendriticum, an endoparasite found in the gut and 16.7% was infected with D. latum, an endoparasite found in the gut
The pattern of infection of samples from the Dam showed ectoparasite with 16.7% while endoparasites with 33.3%

Summary

Introduction

Fish is a cheap and important source of protein and contains calcium, lipids, minerals, vitamins and oils. The most common fish available in Nigeria are the catfish species of Clarias gariepinus and Clarias angulus. They occur mainly in still water, lakes and pools but may be found in fast flowing rivers [1]. They can survive in dry season due to the possession of accessory breathing organ [2,3]. Fish is important to human populace in trade and economy and in the diet of different countries especially the tropics and subtropics where malnutrition is a major problem

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