A Survey of Fish Parasites from Pangani Catchment and Lake Kitangiri in Singida, Tanzania

Abstract

Inland water fisheries are a significant source of dietary protein to human populations, and consequently they are essential economic activities worldwide. However, both natural waters and aquaculture systems, which form the freshwater fisheries are faced with a problem of fish parasitic diseases which may result in reduced productivity and market value. The present study, therefore, carried out a survey on fish parasites from the Pangani catchment (Nyumba ya Mungu dam and Lake Jipe) and Lake Kitangiri in Singida Region in Tanzania to seal the gap of occurrence, diversity and abundance of helminths. Three species of fish viz. 111 African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), 36 African butter catfish (Schilbe mystus) and 9 cichlid tilapia (Oreochromis amphimelas) were examined for parasites. Most fishes were co-infected with two helminth genera, Contracaecum in the abdominal cavities and Tylodelphys in the cranial cavities with prevalences higher than 70%, while a few fish were infected with Diplostomum in the eyes’ vitreous humour and unidentified trematodes in the intestines. Pangani catchment and Lake Kitangiri were recorded as new localities for Tylodelphys species, and O. amphimelas as a new host species.

Keywords: Fish; Helminths; Nyumba ya Mungu Dam; Lakes Kitangiri; Lake Jipe