PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF PARASITES ON FISH SPECIES CAPTURED FROM A RESERVOIR AT KURMI BOMO, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE

Abstract

Knowledge of natural parasites on wild fish will give an insight into how to sustain the wild fisheries resources and how to manage such parasites in cultured fish. Thus, this study sampled fish species caught from a reservoir located at research field of Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Kurmi Bomo, Zaria. This preliminary investigation was for 12 weeks between May 2019 and August 2019, passive gears were set out every fortnight and 5% – 20% of the fish caught were sampled. Floatation method was used to examine the samples for parasites on skin, buccal cavity, opercular cavity, gills, eyes, body cavity, musculature and brain. A total of 23 samples were examined which were Oreochromis niloticus (22) and Clarias galmaensis (1). The Oreochromis niloticus caught were 45% females and 55% males, while the only Clarias galmaensis caught was a male. Parasites were observed in 50% of the female Oreochromis niloticus and these were found in the body cavity (Ascaris spp, Trichodina, oocysts of coccidia and ova of hookworm) and eyes (oocysts of ciccidia and trophozoites of ichthyophthirius), 8% of males had parasites. The male O. niloticus had an average condition factor K=1.67±0.34 while the female O. niloticus had K=1.37±0.24. This study concludes that more female Oreochromis niloticus are infected by different parasites and consumers are enjoined to ensure proper washing and adequate cooking of fish captured from the reservoir before consumption. The information on condition factor of Oreochromis niloticus is important for the management of fisheries resources in the reservoir.