The Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of Heterotis niloticus Cuvier 1828 (Osteoglossiformes: Osteoglossidae) from Anambra River, Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Fish diseases especially those caused by parasites are major problems confronting fish farmers globally. This study investigated the gastrointestinal helminth parasites of Heterotis niloticus (African Bony tongue fish) of Anambra River basin over 24 months (from August 2012 to August 2014). A total of 294 fishes were purchased from fishermen and fish mongers from three locations along the Anambra River, and transported to the laboratory for morphological and parasitological studies. Four species of helminth parasites were isolated comprising one cestode (Sandonella sandoni), two nematodes (Procamallanus laeviconchus and Dujardinascaris species) and one acanthocephalans (Tenuisentis niloticus). Out of the 294 fish species examined, the overall prevalence of   infection was high (53.04%) with a mean abundance of 0.77 of helminth parasites per fish. Prevalence of helminth infection increased with increasing host weight, although there was no significant relationship (p=0.144, p<0.05). Similarly, there was no significant relationship between the length of fish and helminth infection. The intestine was found to be the site for most of the recovered parasites. More of the parasites were recovered during the rainy season. It can be concluded that H. niloticus is a new host record for P. laeviconchus. It is therefore necessary to be aware of the parasitofauna for possible zoonotic disease.