AASCIT Journal of Biology 2015; 1(2): 25-28

Published online June 20, 2015 (http://www.aascit.org/journal/biology)

Keywords Prevalence,

Helminth Parasites,

Procamallanus laevinochus,

Spironoura pisicola,

Siluranodon auritus,

Cross River

Received: May 31, 2015

Revised: June 8, 2015

Accepted: June 9, 2015

Helminth Parasites of Siluranodon auritus in the Mid Cross River Flood System, South Eastern, Nigeria

Uneke Bilikis Iyabo

Dept of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,

Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Email address unekebi@yahoo.com

Citation Uneke Bilikis Iyabo. Helminth Parasites of Siluranodon auritus in the Mid Cross River Flood

System, South Eastern, Nigeria. AASCIT Journal of Biology. Vol. 1, No. 2, 2015, pp. 25-28.

Abstract A parasitological investigation on the helminth parasites of Siluranodon auritus in the mid

Cross River flood system, Southeastern, Nigeria. A total of three hundred and fifty

samples of the fish species were examined. The prevalence of infection was 34.5%. The

female samples (280) recorded a high rate of infection than the male samples (70) with a

prevalence of (23.7%). The samples of Siluranodon auritus were found to be infected with

nematodes, Procamallanus laevinochus and Spironoura pisicola. The smaller fishes were

at their best condition during the course of the study. A total of Ninety nine (99) helminthes

parasites were recovered from the fish samples examined. The overall worm burden was

independent of sex and size of the fish.

1. Introduction

According to Oniye et al., (2004) the Schilbe species are among the major exploitable

fish species in Nigeria. The genus Siluranodon belongs to the family Schilbeldae. They

are widely distributed (Olaosebikan and Raji (1998). Knowledge on the parasites of fish is

very important, since they affect the fishery production (Onusiriuka, 2001 and Oniye et al.,

2004). Fish farming and fisheries have in recent times afforded man the opportunity to

breed fish for commercial purposes. Helminth parasites however, frustrate these efforts as

they are usually a potential source of discomfort to fisheries (Ugwuzor, 1987). Most of the

effective stages of helminth are eaten together with food by the fish; they develop within

the fish and establish infection which may later be consumed by man (Fagbuaro et al.,

2004). The study of helminth parasite is important as some may be lifted from fish to man

and other fish eating domestic animals. If the helminth parasites are identified and

determined, the number of parasites affecting each fish will access the severity of the

parasite infestation. The presence of massive number of helminth parasites on each fish

might constitute a real threat to the fish population in the aquatic environment, reduction in

market value and also leads to unemployment for fishermen (Chubb, 1982). The study of

helminth has been aimed at providing information on the presence of helminth potentially

able to produce disease conditions in fish. Various studies have been conducted on

intestinal helminth of fish in the past decades to analyze parasites communities, with

emphasis on how these communities are structured and the process involved in

maintaining these structures. Fishes and its products are of great economic importance and

should be diagnose for parasite. This should start from the external gross observation of

the fish to check for the presence of large ectoparasites (on the outer skin). It is very vital

that fishes be checked and managed properly in artificial and natural environment

regularly for the good health management of the fish (Awachie et al., 1997). Thus this

26 Uneke Bilikis Iyabo: Helminth Parasites of Siluranodon auritus in the Mid Cross River Flood System, South Eastern, Nigeria

paper seeks to identify the helminth parasite of Siluranodon

auritus, to determine the degree of infestation, to compare the

prevalence of helminth parasite with the condition factor and

to relate the prevalence with the length (cm) and weight (g) of

the species in the mid Cross River flood system.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Description of Study Area

The mid Cross river flood system is located in Afikpo North

Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. The river system is

located in between the longitude of 7°58' and 5°30'20" East

and latitude of 5°57' and 5°30' 20"North (Fig. 1). The river is

also affected by the seasons of the year, which are dry and

rainy seasons. During the rainy season (April-October), the

level of the water increases so rapidly and the water body

becomes muddy due to the deposition of silt from the resultant

flood and the water transparency is reduced while during the

dry season (November-March), the water level reduces and

transparency increases.

Fig 1. Map of Afikpo North Local Government Area showing the sampling locations in the Cross river flood system (Okoh et al., 2007).

2.2. Sampling Techniques

Three hundred and fifty (350) samples of Silronodon

auritus of different sizes were collected and examined as in

preserved condition. The entire batch of fishes were bought

from every other fisherman who caught the fish using cast net

and lift net. The fishes were preserved in 100% ethanol and

transported to the Department of Applied Biology Laboratory

in Ebonyi State University for microscopic examination.

2.3. Laboratory Analysis

The total length of the fish was measured using a meter rule

and the weight of the fish was also obtained using a weighing

balance (beam and digital electronic balance). The fish

samples were dissected, the alimentary canals and the gills of

the fishes were brought out on petri dishes with normal saline.

Each was examined for the presence of or absence of

AASCIT Journal of Biology 2015; 1(2): 25-28 27

endoparasites, the recognition of the worms was enhanced by

the wriggling movement. Any parasite found in the intestine

was removed with dissecting pins and micro forceps. The

recovered helminth parasite were picked into a clean sampling

bottles with normal saline in it to remove the fatty bodies of

the fish, the parasites were counted and recorded. The

parasites were viewed and identified under microscope X40

objective lens, identification of the parasites were done using

the methods prescribed by Yamaguti, (1961) and Khalil

(1971). Analysis of data was done using the infection statistics

of Marcogliese and Cone (1996) as prevalence was defined as

number host infested, divided by the number examined

expressed as a percentage. The condition factor was defined as

body weight of the fish multiply by 100, divided by the length

of the fish in cube. Prevalence = No. of host infected/No. of

fish examined X 100

Condition factor (CF) = W/L3 X 100

3. Results

Three hundred and fifty (350) fish samples of Silurondon

auritus subjected to parasitological investigations. The overall

percentage prevalence of helminthes infection was 34.5%.

Ninety nine (99) had helminth parasites. Table 1 shows the

prevalence of helminth infection in relation to sex of

Silurondon auritus. A total number of seventy (70%) male and

280 females were examined from the 70 males sampled; thirty

eight (38) were infested (54.2%). On the other hand, 280

female of the specimens were examined and eighty three (83)

were infested. (X2 = 3.959, P<0.05). This implies that there is

no significance between sex and infection in the sample. Table

2 illustrates size related variations in the infection of

Silurondon auritus. The length groups of 5-10cm and

10-15cm had significantly higher prevalence of parasitic

infection than other length groups. The prevalence of parasitic

infection had its minimum in the length group 15-20cm. and

20-25cm length group recorded zero prevalence of infection.

(X2 = 45.3g, P<0.05). This implies that there is no significance

between size and infection in the sample. The maximum

weight recorded in the specimens was 45.3g, and the

minimum weight recorded was 2.0g. The minimum total

length recorded was 5.2cm, while the maximum total length

recorded was 24.2cm. The result of the helminth infections

shows that smaller specimens were more prone to parasitic

infections in Silurondon auritus. The condition factor of the

fish from the data shown in table 3 shows that the small fishes

in this population were in their best condition than the big one

since the mean length of 12.00-12.90cm has a mean condition

factor of 1.3657 and 1.1692 and the mean length of

15.00-20,00cm has the condition factor of 1.0962.

Table 1. The (%) prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in relation to the sex of Silurondon auritus.

Sex Number Examined Number Infected Percentage Infected

Male 70 38 10.9

Female 280 83 23.7

Total 350 121 34.6

Chi-square = 3.969.

Table 2. The (%) prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in relation to the size of Silurondon auritus.

Total Length (cm) Number Examined Number Infected Percentage Infected

5-10 75 43 12.3

10-15 38 13 3.7

15-20 233 65 18.6

20-25 4 0 0

Total 350 121 34.6

Chi-square = 4.691.

Table 3. The mean condition factor relation to the size of Silurondon auritus.

Total Length (cm) Sample size Mean length (cm) Mean weight (g) Condition factor

5-10 75 7.9 2.1 1.4

10-15 38 11.8 10.3 1.2

15-20 233 16.4 28.7 1.0

20-25 4 22.7 43.5 0.7

Total 350

4. Discussion

The helminth parasites of three hundred fifty samples of

Silurondon auritus Cross River flood system, Southeastern

Nigeria were investigated. The prevalence of infestation was

34.6%. The helminth parasites recovered from the present

study are nematodes Procamallanus laeviconchus and

Spironoura pisicola. Onwuliri and Mgbemena (1987) states

that the presence of parasitic helminth depends on various

physiochemical and physiological conditions in the gut, this is

so because the helminth differs in their nutritional and

28 Uneke Bilikis Iyabo: Helminth Parasites of Siluranodon auritus in the Mid Cross River Flood System, South Eastern, Nigeria

respiratory requirements. According to Mackenzie et al.,

(1995) hydrochemical and hydrobiological factors marked

influence on the development growth and abundance of fresh

water fish parasites. The nematode normally occurs in body

cavities or penetrates subcutaneous tissues. The males are

short-lived and the ovoviviparous females extrude their

posterior end through the skin to release larvae into the water

and fish become infected by ingesting infected copepods.

Akinsanya et al., 2007 in a comparative study on the parasitic

helminth fauna of Gymnarchus niloticus and Heterotis

niloticus recovered Nilonema gymnarchi in the intestine of

Gymnarchus niloticus and Raphidascarides species in the

stomach. The most specificity of nematode is variable.

According to Aken 'ova (1999) specie of nematode was said to

be the commonest parasite of fresh water fish in Africa. This

may be due to the size and food preferences, which may affect

abundance of parasites as reported by Ugwuzor (1987). The

environment location could be attributed to several factors like

the nutrients level, pH, osmotic tension and oxygen tension

separating in the gut as well as food reserve (Ugwuzor, 1987

and Onusiriuka, 2001). The helminthes were recovered from

fishes in all weight categories; variations in the infestations of

the different length categories were also recorded. The length

group 20-25cm recorded zero prevalence of infection. This

may be attributed to the possible random selection of the

specimen and the probable random selection of the specimen

and the probable high level of immunity in larger sized fish

specimens. (Akinsanya et al., 2007). The length group 5-10cm

and 10-15cm recorded the highest prevalence of infections.

The length group of 15-20 records 28.0% prevalence of

infection. This may be attributable to the random selection and

the low level of immunity in the smaller sized fishes.

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