Parasites of Nile tilapia (<i>Oreochromisniloticus</i>) from selected fish farms and Lake Koftuin central Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted from October 2016 to January 2017 at Lake Koftu, Sebeta ponds and selected private fish farms in Wonchi area, Ethiopia. The main objective was to identify the major parasites of Oreochromis niloticus to the lowest possible Taxa, thereby determine the prevalence, mean intensities and mean abundances of parasites. A total of 302 O. niloticus (101 from Lake Koftu, 127 from Sebeta pond and 72 from selected small scale fish farms) were collected and examined for the presence of parasites.The overall prevalence of all parasites in Lake Koftu, Sebeta ponds and private fish farms were found to be 100%, 71.0% and 82.2% respectively. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the study sites in overall prevalence. Nine Taxa of parasites were identified in Lake Koftu, the Trematode Tylodelpyes spp. being the most prevalent parasite (93.1%). In Sebeta fish ponds, 11 Taxa of parasites were recovered from O. niloticus with the most prevalent parasite being Trichodina (37.5%) and four Taxa of parasites from small scale fish farms were identified and the highest prevalent parasite being with Trichodina spp (53.25%). The study showed that fingerlings from Lake Koftu had high prevalence of parasitic infestation and hence may be source of parasites for others when used for stocking small scale fish farms requiring intervention measures such as deworming before being stocked to other farms.Keywords: Ethiopia; Fish farms; Lake Koftu; Oreochromis niloticus; Parasites, Prevalence