COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF SOME INTESTINAL PARASITIC HELMINTHS OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS (BURCHELL, 1822) OBTAINED FROM AJIWA AND ZOBE RESERVOIRS IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The research was conducted between September, 2020 and February, 2021 to determine the occurrence of parasitic fauna invading the African catfish Clarias gariepinus and the connected threat issues in two different locales (Ajiwa and Zobe reservoirs). A total of 180 fish samples covering ninety (90) from Ajiwa reservoir and ninety (90) from Zobe reservoir were sampled and identified. The Fish opened dorso-ventrally using a razor blade and the alimentary canals were removed, the intestine were sorted and cut into parts kept in different plate contained 0.9%saline solution parasites recovery. Nevertheless, the intestinal helminthic parasite were isolated and identified, similarly, incidence of intestinal helminthic parasite in relation to sex of Clarias gariepinus in both locations was determined. All helminthic infections observed were restricted to the stomach and intestine. The helminths identified belong to the cestodes, nematodes and digenean groups. Male C. gariepinus had the highest prevalence in Ajiwa reservoir 22 (46.80%), whilst in Zobe reservoir Female C. gariepinus has the highest prevalence of infection 29 (58.00%). Monobothrium spp., and Ascaris eggs of Cestode and Nematode were the most frequent parasite observed. Upcoming researchers should develop their work with this baseline parasitological data in the studied areas