Abstract
Globally, parasitic infections hinder aquaculture productivity and sustainability. Improper water quality parameters reduce fish immunity, make them susceptible to parasites, and enhance parasitic proliferation in culture systems. Subsequently, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of ecto‐ and endo‐parasite infestingOreochromis niloticusin varying water quality in aquaculture systems in Kericho, Bomet, and Nakuru counties. A total of 220Oreochromis niloticussamples were captured from 11 liner ponds, eight earthen ponds, two concrete ponds, and one plastic tank from 22 farms in the three counties. External and internal organs were examined for parasite infestation. Skin scrapings and squash preparation of fish eyes were also examined to reveal the organisms through microscopic examination. A Pearson’s correlation analysis between physicochemical parameters and parasitic prevalence was used to determine the strength and direction of correlation coefficients with significance at 95%. Overall parasitic prevalence infestation was 39.6% (87/220). Ten parasite genera were recovered, withDactylogyrusspecies dominating overall at 15.9% (35/220), followed byTrichodinaspp. (7.7%; 17/220).Epistylisspecies had the highest mean intensity of 12.8 ± 35.7 (total number ofEpistylisparasites (141)/total of infested fish (11)). Earthen ponds had a significantly higher (36.2%, 29/80) prevalence ofDactylogyrussp. than liner ponds (3.6%, 4/110) (p< 0.001). Dissolved oxygen levels were 16.9 ± 0.7 mgL−1in Bomet, 14.9 ± 0.3 mgL−1in Kericho, and 12.5 ± 0.5 mgL−1in Nakuru which were above desirable range for fish culture. The electrical conductivity in Bomet was 76 ± 5 µS/cm and Kericho 52 ± 4 µS/cm below the desirable range. Temperature, pH, phosphate, nitrates, and nitrites were within the desirable limit for fish farming. Electrical conductivity and pH had positive correlation of 1 and 0.97, respectively, with the prevalence ofAcanthocephalus,Euclinostomum, andTrichodinaspecies. Temperature and nitrate positively correlated between 0.80–0.89 and 0.90–0.99, respectively, with the prevalence ofDactylogyrus,Riboscyphidia,Epistylis,Camallanus, andParacamallanusspecies. The study demonstrates that water quality significantly influences parasitic prevalence in aquaculture systems. Therefore, it is crucial for farmers to monitor water quality parameters to mitigate parasitic infestations.
Published Version
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