Helminthes Parasites of Clarias gariepinus in Abraka Delta State, Nigeria

Fish is significant as a vector of disease pathogen of human and animals. The study of the helminthes parasites of Clarias gariepinus in Abraka was carried out to investigate the occurrence, prevalence and intensity of helminthes parasites in Clarias gariepinus; and to compare the helminthes parasites burden of the wild and cultured Clarias gariepinus in Abraka fresh water. A total number of four hundred and nine (409) Clarias gariepinus were examined. Collection of fish samples was done monthly for twelve months. The external parts of each fish were examined with a hand lens for the occurrence of helminthes parasites. Portions of the muscles were also teased apart in saline water and examined under the microscope first at x 40 and later x 100 oil immersion. Organs of the body were examined separately in petri dishes containing normal saline. The different groups of parasites recovered were preserved in formaldehyde and identified using prescribed methods. Of the 409 C. gariepinus examined, 172 were infected, showing an infection rate of 42.1%. C. gariepinus from the wild had a higher prevalence of 31.1% while those from culture ponds had a lower prevalence of 11%. A total of 485 parasites were recovered, comprising of 113 trematodes and 372 nematodes which represents 23.3% and 76.7% respectively. Identified trematodes included Diplosomum sp., Macrogyrodactylus sp., and Quadriancanthus sp., while namatodes included Procamallanus sp. and an Ascarid nematode. The highest intensity of infection of 3.11 was recorded in the Ascarid nematode while the least of 1.25 came from Diplostomum sp. in C. gariepinus caught from the wild. Although, there appears to be a lack of reported cases of the occurrence of the ascarid nematode that was recovered from the muscles of C. gariepinus in literature, it is evident from this study that it is a common endoparasite of the African catfish in Abraka freshwater.