PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE SQUEAKER FISHES, SYNODONTIS SERRATUS AND SYNODONTIS SCHALL FROM LAKE NASSER, EGYPT

Awatef Hamed Hamouda

doi:10.21608/avmj.2019.168905

Abstract

This work describes the parasitic infections in wild Synodontis serratus and Synodontis schall from Lake Nasser, Egypt and the histopthological impacts of these parasites on the infected fish. A total number of 100 Synodontis serratus and100 Synodontis schall were collected alive from several and various localities of the lake during 2018. One cestode: Wenyonia virilis, three nematodes: Cithariniella citharini, Procamallanus laeviconchus and Spirocamallanus pseudospiralis (new locality record) and one zoonotic encysted metacercaria of trematode: Centrocestus formosanus (new hosts record) were identified from both fish species; in addition to, one cestode: Proteocephalus sulcatus and one acanthocephalan: Rhadinorhynchus sp . (new host record) were only recorded from Synodontis schall. The infection rates of examined fish; Synodontis serratus and Synodontis schall were 54% and 78% respectively. This study evaluated clinical signs, postmortem lesions, organ or tissue susceptibility, incidence, intensity of infection, seasonal prevalence and histopathological alterations induced by these parasitic infections. Interestingly, the musculature of the fish was free from any parasitic infections and safe for human consumption provided that the fish would be eviscerated and adequately cooked. This work provides analysis of fish-parasite fauna which is a very helpful tool for implementing control and preventative measures against parasitic diseases especially the zoonotic ones.

Highlights

In the world there are 13,000 freshwater fish species, 25% of them are in African freshwater bodies (Lévêque et al, 2008)
Synodontis serratus and Synodontis schall; are from the most common fish of family Mochokidae in Egypt, distributed in the whole River Nile and Lake Nasser. They popularly known as korkar, gargour or squeakers due to the sounds they make when removed from the water by rubbing their spines together (Latif, 1974 and Bishai and Khalil, 1997)
Clinical examination of Synodontis serratus and Synodontis schall revealed no pathognomonic lesions except presence of some hemorrhagic patches on different parts of infected fish's skin (Fig. 1 A) as well as, congested gills with excessive mucus secretions

Summary

Introduction

In the world there are 13,000 freshwater fish species, 25% of them are in African freshwater bodies (Lévêque et al, 2008). Synodontis species are of the contemporary fish species in Lake Nasser after tilapias (the predominant species) They are small to medium sized fish, omnivorous, feeding mainly on animal food (fish, worms, mollusks and insects), some food of plant origin, phyto- and zooplankton (Bishai et al, 2000). They support the commercial fisheries in Egypt (Mekkawy and Hassan, 2011). Synodontis serratus and Synodontis schall; are from the most common fish of family Mochokidae in Egypt, distributed in the whole River Nile and Lake Nasser They popularly known as korkar, gargour or squeakers due to the sounds they make when removed from the water by rubbing their spines together (Latif, 1974 and Bishai and Khalil, 1997)

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Discussion

Conclusion