Length-Weight Relationship and the Distribution of Intestinal Helminth Parasites in Freshwater Fishes from Amansea and Ebenebe Rivers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Aims: The current study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of intestinal helminths in freshwater fishes.

Study Design: The study was a survey done to establish the type of intestinal parasite found in freshwater fish in the rivers.

Place and Duration of Study: The fish samples were collected from Amansea and Ebenebe Rivers from November 2021 to January 2022.

Methodology: Intestinal parasites of three (3) fish species commonly found in these rivers (Parachanna obscura, Clarias gariepinus, and Ctenopoma kingsleyae) were examined. A comparative evaluation of the prevalence and distribution of the parasite was done in relation to their gender, location, weight, and length.

Results: A total of 24 fish samples were collected in the Amansea River and 26 samples were collected in Ebenebe River. Seventeen (17) samples of P. obscura, 21 samples of C. gariepinus and 12 samples of C. kingsleyae caught with the cast nets of various mesh sizes and gill traps by artisanal fishermen in Rivers were bought early in the morning, transported to the Laboratory and identified based on morphological features. Out of a total of 50 fish sampled, 17 fishes (34% of the total sample) were infected by intestinal helminths. P. obscura had the highest parasite prevalence (47.06%) followed by C. gariepinus (42.86%). However, no parasite was recorded in C. kingsleyae. Prevalence of intestinal parasites in Ebenebe (18.00%) was higher than in Amansea (16.00) with a significant difference in prevalence (p<0.05), while parasite abundance was higher in Amansea (50.94%) than in Ebenebe (49.06%) with significant difference (p<0.05). Females had the highest prevalence (35.00%) against male fishes (33.33%) with no significant difference. A total number of 53 parasites belonging to 7 genera were recovered in this study. Parasites identified were nematodes: Procamallanus sp. (41.5%), Camallanus sp. (9.43%), Rhabdochona sp. (26.42%), Contracaecum sp. (7.55%), and Spinitectus sp. (5.66%); cestodes: Polyonchobothrium sp. (5.66%); and trematodes: Clinostomum sp (3.77%). The highest parasite abundance was recorded in Procamallanus sp. (41.5%), while Clinostomum sp had the least (3.77%).

Conclusion: This study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal parasites in freshwater fish is relatively high. Therefore, fish consumers should subject the fish to proper processing before consumption as some of these parasites are of zoonotic importance.