Endoparasitic fauna and Condition factor of two fish species from Lower River Benue, Nigeria

OMEJI, S., GARBA, A.A., AGBO, J.O.

Abstract: Endoparasitic fauna and Condition factor of Synodontis euptera and Auchenoglanis occidentalis from Lower River Benue, Nigeria was determined. Out of the 90 samples of S. euptera, used for the study, 24 smples were infested with 61 parasites; while stomach accounted for 27 parasites belonging to one species of nemtoda (40. 74% Eustrongylydes sp.,Plate 1) and cesdtoda (48.15% Diphilobothrium latum, Plate 2), intestine had 34 parasites belonging to two species of nematoda (26.47% Eustrongylydes sp, 14.71% Cocullanus sp., Plate 3) and one species of cesdtoda (67.65% Diphilobothrium latum). Of the 90 samples of A. occidentalis, 19 smples were infested with 57 parasites; while stomach accounted for 28 parasites belonging to one species of nemtoda (46.43% Eustrongylydes sp) and cesdtoda (53.57% Diphilobothrium latum), intestine recorded 19 parasites belonging to one species of nematoda (31.58% Eustrongylydes sp) and cesdtoda (68.42% Diphilobothrium latum).Parasitic prevalence of 26.67% and 21.11% were recorded for S. euptera and A. occidentalis, respectively. Variation in percentage helminth parasites existed among the length groups of S. euptera being most prevalent (50.82%) in length group 30.1-40.00cm but lowest (4.92%) in length group 0-20.0cm. Also, variation in percentage helminth parasites existed among the length groups of A. occidentalis being most prevalent (61.70%) in length group 31.2-46.70cm but lowest (10.64%) in length group 15.60-31.20cm. The highest K of infected male (0.91-+0.29) and female (1.21+_0.00) of S. euptera were recorded in the month of October while the lowest (0.75±0.08) and (0.72±0.00) were recorded in the month of September. Highest K (1.58=+0.32) and (1.51 +-0.29) for uninfected male and female were recorded in the month of July. In addition highest K of infected male (1.3+-0.03) and female (1.43+-0.02) for A. occidentalis were recorded in the month of October 2017, while the lowest (0.97+-0.01 and 0.94+-0.02) where recorded in the month of September, 2017. Whereas highest k (1.78+0.35 and 1.73+-0.32) of male and female A.occidentalis was recorded in the month of July, 2017 while the lowest (1.10+-0.06 and 1.07+-0.15) were recorded in the month of September, 2017. Female S. euptera had higher percentage parasite infestation (55.74%) from 62.55% infected fish samples than the male (44.26%) parasites from 37.5% infested fish. Also, female A. occidentalis had higher parasite infestation (65.45%) from 63.16% infected fish than the male with 34.55% parasite infestation from 36.84% infected fish.