Gastro-intestinal helminth parasites of fish species in Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

A parasitological investigation on the gastrointestinal helminth parasites of fishes in Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria was conducted from January to August 2009. A total of two hundred and twenty one fish specimens belonging to 26 species and 15 families were examined. Nine (9) out of the twenty-six (26) species recorded haboured nematode parasites. Those species that haboured nematode parasites were: Papyrocranus afer (33.3%), Brycinus leuciscus (29.7%), Arnoldichthys spilopterus (3.57%), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (77.8%), Parachanna obscura (28%), Hemichromis faciatus (50%), Tilapia mariae (8.69%), Tilapia guinensis (18.9%) and Lutjanus endecacanthus (100%). The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematheminthes infections was 18.1%, based on a total of fourty of the fish specipmens found to be infected. The gastrointestinal helminth parasites recovered were Amphibiophilus acanthociratus, Rondonia rondoni, Cosmoynemoides aguirrei, Tachygonetria sp, Goezia spinulosa, Buckleynema sp, Metaquimperia sp, Camallanus sp, Procamallanus laevichonchus, Proleptus sp, Bancroftinema dentatum, Cystidicola farioni,, Clavinema sp., and Philonema oncorhynchi. The nematodes belonged to 10 families and 5 orders. Lutjanus endecacanthus had the highest prevalence rate, followed by Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, while Arnoldichthys spilopterus had the least.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal helminth parasites, fish species, Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria