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Ahmed Hamid et al., 1:11http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/scientificreports.517

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Open Access Scientific ReportsScientific Reports

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Volume 1 • Issue 11 • 2012

Keywords: Survey; Parasites; Helminthes; O. niloticus; C. lazea; Fresh water fish

IntroductionFish are most numerous of the vertebrates. At least about 20,000

known species and more than 58% are found in marine environment

livestock. A breakdown showed that fish accounts for more than forty percent of the protein diet of two-third of the global population [3,4]. Due to increase in human population, demand for fish as a source of protein is on the increase [5]. In recent times, there has been a tremendous increase in the development of fish farming and culture due to an increase in the need for animal protein. African waters are rich in fishery resources and in spite of recent effort to increase catch; much of the potential supply fails to reach the great masses of the consumers. As it is already mentioned earlier, fishes are important to man as a source of protein as well as a vector of some human pathogens. One of the scientific importances of identifying a fish properly is the health condition of the fish and certain parasitic infections present with some symptoms that appear on the external treatment of the fish.

All species of fish are vulnerable to various parasitic infections depending on species of fish and type of stream inhabited. Some of the factors that enhance parasitic infection in fish include oxygen content of water, increase of organic matter in water and poor environmental conditions.

In Sudan, some work has been done on fish parasites and epidemiology of fish disease by many researchers. Helminthes

*Corresponding author: Samia Hamid Ahmed Hamid, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, College of Animal Production for Science and Technology, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 204, Khartoum North, Sudan, E-mail: samiahamid113@yahoo.com

Received July 16, 2012; Published November 29, 2012

Citation: Ahmed Hamid SH, Mohammed Ahmed FA, Mohammed Salih RR (2012) Survey of Helminthes Parasite of Four Fish Species in Al-Dinder and Al-Rahad River. 1:517. doi:10.4172/scientificreports.517

Copyright: © 2012 Ahmed Hamid SH, et al. This is an open-access article distrib-uted under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the origi-nal author and source are credited.

AbstractThis study tends to survey of helminthes parasites at Maya of Dinder National Park and Abraham dam at RAHAD

River. Five fresh water fish species, Heterotis niloticus, Bagrus bagrus, Clarias lazera and Oreochromis niloticus from Al-Dinder River at Sennar State and also in other location, the same species were taken addition to Lates niloticus from Al-Rahad River, Abraham dam at Algadarif state. The prevalence rate and density of parasites were recorded. The result of this study included first macro-microscopic by examination of parasites as identified by Paperna (1996) and these were:

One species of cestodes: Polyonchobthum polypten in Clarias lazera from Al-Dinder River (Mayah Altomsah).

Two species of nematodes: Procamallarus laeviconchus, Cucullanus barbi in Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias lazera from ElRahd River (Abraham dam).

Four species of trematodes: Clinostomum cutaneum, prgidiosis metacercaria in Clarais sp. and Oreochromis niloticus, Bolbophorus levantinus, early metacercariae, Clinostomum tilapia in Oreochromis niloticus, Heterophyes heterophyes in Oreochromis niloticus from Al-Rahad River (Abraham dam).

The presence of these parasites in fish did not manifest any apparent legions, necrosis or pressure atrophy in visceral organs. However, the most string finding was the presence of identified metacercarial cysts in the Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias lazera from Al-Rahad River. Even the specimens examined for Clarias lazera from Al-Rahad River (Abraham dam) were found as encysted metacercaria.

The further studies were suggested to investigate the health status of fish in both locations throughout various seasons.

Survey of Helminthes Parasite of Four Fish Species in Al-Dinder and Al-Rahad RiverSamia Hamid Ahmed Hamid1*, Fawzi Ali Mohammed Ahmed1 and Reem Rabie Mohammed Salih2

1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, College of Animal Production for Science and Technology, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 204, Khartoum North, Sudan2Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan

parasites had attracted many of them [6,7]. Despite this, it was clear that most of these reviews had focused on description and morph metric measurements of the parasite but little was done about the biological life cycle of parasite and host parasite relationship. However, a histopathological change in fish tissue was investigated due to helminthes parasite at Khashm el girba area and Khartoum state respectively.

In the present work, a general survey of helminthes parasite fauna of fishes belongs to four species: Oreochromis aureus, Bagrus bagrus, Clarias lazera and Heteroticus niloticus at Dinder river and Lates niloticus, Bagrus bagrus, Clarias lazera and Oreochromis niloticus from Al-Rahad River collected from Abraham dam.

The present work also aims to compare the parasite of the two areas studied and updating literature on studied species.

[1,2]. Fish serve as a good source of animal protein for man and his

Citation: Ahmed Hamid SH, Mohammed Ahmed FA, Mohammed Salih RR (2012) Survey of Helminthes Parasite of Four Fish Species in Al-Dinder and Al-Rahad River. 1:517. doi:10.4172/scientificreports.517

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Materials and MethodStudy area

Dinder national park: It is located on the south-eastern part of central Sudan, close to Sudan- Ethiopian border, with an area of 1,084,600 hectares. Administratively, the park falls in the Dinder district of Sennar state and it borders the Gedaref state in the north-eastern direction.

Dinder National Park (DNP) is the only national park which forms an important technological zone in the arid and semiarid Sudan-Saharan region, because of its geo-physical location. The park is an island of the diversity array of fauna and flora of the region, Hakim et al. [11] recognized three types of ecosystem: Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca, and Savannah woodlands. Abdel Hameed et al. (1990) reported that the wet lands are formed by meanders and oxbows’ along Rivers and there are about 40 may as pools that are part of Rivers Rahad and Dinder drainage system.

Abraham dam: Its located north-east of Algadarif state this dam built at River of RAHAD wish support projects of Al-Rahad agricultural area. The location of dam is strategically to discharge the flood water and storage water for irrigation at summer season to errata AL-Rahad agriculture area.

Fish species: The species used in this research were 20 species of Oreochromis niloticus with average total length 8-16 cm, 10 species Lates niloticus average length 25-28 cm, 20 species Clarias lazera average total length 3-28 cm, 20 species Bagrus bagrus average total length 60-24 cm and 10 species of Heteroticus niloticus 17 cm average in total length were used in this study.

Collection and examination for parasites: The fishes were dissected and the alimentary canals were removed and cut into parts in physiological saline for parasite recovery. The intestines were further carefully slit open to aid the emergence of parasites. The recognition of the worms was enhanced by the wriggling movements on emergence.

Processing of parasites recovered: The recovered helminth parasites were fixed in 70% alcohol, counted and recorded. Whole mount histological preparations of worms stained with Haematoxylin and eosin were prepared. Identification of specimens to species level was undertaken and confirmed at the British Museum (Natural History), United Kingdom.

ResultsMacroscopic examination

Al dinder river (Mayah Altomsah_ Mayah Abd Algani): These four species examined did not show any significant external lesions or abnormality. A few hemorrhagic foci were detected on the fin of 15% Oreochrmis niloticus and 10% Bargus bargus which covered with thin mucus. 9.5 of Hetroticus niloticus and Clarias lazera showed mucous gills. The rest were free of any significant lesions. The internal organ of fish was apparently normal.

Al-Rahad river (Abraham dam): Externally all species of fish were apparently normal. Internally, 10% of Oreochrmis niloticus showed hemorrhage in the gut.

One hundred samples belonging to five genera were subjected to parasitological investigation only twelve fish were infected with thirteen parasites.

The prevalence of parasitic infection was shown in (Tables 1 and 2) parasites recovered were nematodes, trematodes and cestodes in decreasing order of abundance. The incidence of infestation by nematodes, cestodes and trematodes were 16%, 41.6% and 8.3% respectively. The parasites were collected from gills, stomach and sometimes muscles were infected. The only parasites recovered from Clarias lazera was cestodes Polyonchobthriu polypteri.

Nematodes occurred mostly in gill, esophagus and gut of Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias lazera. These include procamallarus laevionchus and Cucullanus barbi in peritoneum membrane. Trematode found in Clarias lazera, Clinostomum and Oreochromis niloticus include cutaneum Pygidiosis metacercariae in the muscles of Clarias lazera and Oreochromis niloticus.

DiscussionThe result obtained in this study revealed vary degree of prevalence

and density rate of parasitic infection in the two studied area at Dinder National Park (Mayas) and Abrakham dam at Rahad province. Cestodes, nematodes were 5% and 3% respectively. In this respect some organophosphorus products which produce by high bloom of algae at DNP is described as remedy for helminth parasite in livestock [8,9] reported that the natural host of trematode parasites were the night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and the African darter and these bird were not found around the Mayas which could act as host for this parasites especially at this period of study.

Dinder National Park Al-Rahad RiverSpecies

ParasitesOreochromis

niloticusClarislazera

Bargusbargus

Hetroticusniloticus

Oreochromisniloticus

Clarislazera

Bargusbargus Lates niloticus

Trematodes - - - - 80% 50% - -Cestodes - 10% - - - - - -

Nematodes - - - - 50% 10% - -

Table 1: It shows the prevalence rate of helminthes parasites from fish species in both locations.

Dinder National Park Al-Rahad RiverSpecies

ParasitesOreochromis

niloticusClarislazera

Bargusbargus

Hetroticusniloticus

Oreochromisniloticus

Clarislazera

Bargusbargus Lates niloticus

Trematodes - - - - 2.3 1.4 - -Cestodes - 1 - - - - - -

Nematodes - - - - 2.3 1.4 - -

Table 2: It shows the density ratio of helminthes parasites from fish species in both locations.

Citation: Ahmed Hamid SH, Mohammed Ahmed FA, Mohammed Salih RR (2012) Survey of Helminthes Parasite of Four Fish Species in Al-Dinder and Al-Rahad River. 1:517. doi:10.4172/scientificreports.517

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Volume 1 • Issue 11 • 2012

of the continuous movement of water current over the gill which may include survival of parasite there.

References

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2. Thure HV, Webber HH (1984) Marine biology. Charles E. Merril Publishing C. A. Bell and Howell Co. Columbus, Ohio, USA.

3. Eyo AA (1992) Utilization of freshwater fish species in Nigeria. Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference of Fisheries Society of Nigeria, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

4. FAO (1999) World production of fish, crustaceans and mollusks by major finding areas. Fisheries information data and statistic unit (FIDI). F.A.O, Rome.

5. Abolarin MO (1996) A new species of Henneguya (Myxosporida, protozoa) from west Africa cat fish, Clarias lazera (val; with a review of the genus Henneguya thelohan). The Africa Journal of Tropical hydrobiology and fisheries 1: 93-105.

6. Khalil LF (1959) On a new trematoda, Astiotrema sudanensis sp. nov., from a freshwater turtle in the Sudan. J Helminthol 35: 263-266.

7. Salih MMM (1997) Parasitic and Histopathological Studies on Some Inland Fish Species at Khashm El-Girba Reservoir. University of Khartoum.

8. Dubis G (1931) Materiaux de la mission Scintifique Suisse en Angola. Trematoda Bull Soc Neuchatel Serci Nat 55: 73-88.

9. Cooper Mcdougall and Robertson Company. Manufactures of products to protect the health and hygiene of man and animals. The welcome foundation 1td. Berkhamsted herts, England.

10. Ahmed SM (1999) Effect of helminthes parasites on tissue morphology of two commercial Fish at Khartoum State, O.niloticus and Clarias lazera. University of Khartoum.

11. Hamed AA (1993) Helminthes of some fresh water fish in the Sudan Dissertation thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

12. Alwasila AM (1976) Parasite of Tilapia sp. In the area around Kharoum, University of Khartoum.

13. Khalil LF (1969) Studies on the helminth parasites of freshwater fishes of the Sudan. J Zool 158: 143-170.

14. Dawes B (1956) The trematoda. Cambridge University Press, London.

15. Paprena I (1980) Found out parasite infection and disease of fish in Africa. CIFA, FAO Tech 7: 216.

16. Idris ZO (1986) Studies on parasite of four species of fresh water fishes in the area around Khartoum. University of Khartoum, Sudan.

17. Ahmed SM (1999) Effect of helminthes parasites on tissue morphology of two commercial fish at Khartoum State, O.niloticus and Clarias lazera. University of Khartoum.

Only one species of cestodes was isolated from Clarias sp. At Al Dinder National Park from the intestines did not manifest any ulceration as abnormality regardless of higher infestation. This result agrees with [10] who identified the same species of cestodes Polyonchobothrium sp. from Clarias sp. At Khartoum state. Paperna (1996) [1] mentioned that adult cestodes seemed more specific to this siluroid fish. Also this view substantiated by [1] who reported that encysted larvae of cestodes did not interfere with physiological function of the fish even when numerous in the mesenteries. No adult or larval cestodes were encountered on O. niloticus, Bargus bargus, Lates niloticus, Heterois niloticus in the two studied area. This result disagrees with [11] who found larval cestode in the intestine of O. niloticus and [12] recorded cyst larvae on the hepatopancreas of O.niloticus obtained from Jabel Aulia location. According to Khalil [13], the absence of adult cestode in the gut of various these species is due to feeding habit especially of these which feed on algae. It is apparent that the susceptibility of O. niloticus to disgenetic trematoda was only detected in Jabel Aulia reservoir. In the present study, Claria lazera, Heterois niloticus, Bargus bargus and Latus niloyicus, on the other hand, was found to be free of any trematode infestation at the two studied sites of all known trematodes are in parasite of fish [14]. Also the study revealed the susceptibility of Oreochromis niloticus to digenetic trematode at Al-Rahad Dam.

Paperna [15] studied that these parasites are apparently specific to tilapias. In view of this, the result presented has substantiated that of the latter author. However, other worker e.g. [7,16] who investigated helminthes infection in four species of fresh water fish include Claria lazera which did not isolate a single digenetic trematode out of the latter fish species however, this study could pave the way to speculate Clarias lazera, Bargus bargus are resistant to adult trematode infestation. Also Oreochromis niloticus infected by two type of larval nematode from Al-Rahad River while species found free of infestation at the two studied location. This result agree with [10] who isolated two larval nematode from Oreochromis niloticus from [7,12] isolated Plicaecum spp from Oreochromis niloticus Labeo niloticus and Claria lazera. Whereas [15] recorded that in the Sudan Nile infection with amplicaecum occur in the body cavity of predator fish such as Claria lazera, polypterus sp and Lates niloticus with even higher density of infection [17].

It is evident that the Oreochromis niloticus species are more frequently infected with parasites than any species from the finding of this study. The high infection rate found on the gill could be a result