HELMINTHS PARASITIC INFECTION OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS FROM GREAT KWA RIVER, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA.

*Cletus Inah Iboh and Raymond Odey Ajang

ABSTRACT

A total of 230 Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) were purchased between February and June 2016 from artisanal fishermen at Obufa Esuk Beach along Great Kwa River, Calabar. The fish were subjected to parasitological study in Biological Science Laboratory of Cross River University of Technology, Calabar. Out of this 230 fish samples, 122 (53.04%) were infected and a total of 247 helminths parasites recovered. Six species of helminth parasites were isolated namely, Tapeworm species (9.84%), Anisakis simplex (24.59%), Nippostrongylus brasilienses (34.43%), Ascaris lumbricoides (7.38%), Caenorhabditis elegans (17.21%) and Ancyrocephalids monogeneans (6.56%). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the infection rate of male and female fish. The highest fish organ infected was intestine (51.01%), followed by the stomach (18.62%), next was the skin (12.15%), then Liver (10.12%) and finally gills (8.10%). The infection rates in relation to body length and weight was highest 75.00% and 80.00% at 41-50 cm and 201-300 grams respectively.

Keywords: Helminth Parasites, Clarias gariepinus, Great Kwa.