Endoparasites of Food-fish landing from the Calabar River, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the prevalence and abundance of endoparasites of landed food-fishes from the Calabar River, Cross River State and the public health implications to fish consumers. Place and Duration of Study: Weekly fish samples were collected for a period of six months (May-October,in 2012) at Nsidung beach, Calabar south, Cross river state, Nigeria,. located in the tropical rain forest belt of Nigeria along latitude 4 o 45' N and longitude 8 o 30' E. Methodology: A total of 300 fish specimen were collected from 15 fish species (20 from each species) from local fishermen and transported in a cool bucket containing ice flex to the Fish Pathology laboratory, University of Calabar, for identification and examination. Organ squash of some organs (liver, spleen, heart, and kidney);), stomach contents and intestinal scrapes were respectively examined microscopically for parasites. Results: Examination showed an overall prevalence of 54.5560 % incidence for Bathygobius soporato, 13.6315 % for Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus, 9.0910 % for Clarias gariepinus and 22.7325 % for Synodontis clarias respectively. The preferred organs for Parasites parasite infection were the stomach and intestines of affected fish. Nematodes, trematodes and cestodes were found in decreasing order of abundance. Camallanus kirandensis (nematodeNematoda) was found in the intestines and stomachs of B. soporato, S. clarias, C. nigrodigitatus and C. gariepinus., and in the stomach of B. soporato, S. clarias, C. nigrodigitatus; Clinostomum complanatum (trematodeTrematoda) in the stomach and intestine of B. soporato; Diphyllobothrium latum (CestodeCestoda) in the stomach of C. nigrodigitatus; Pomporhynchus laevis (acanthocephalanAcanthocephala) in the intestine of B. soporato, S. clarias and C. nigrodigitatus and in the stomach of S. clarias. Endoparasites were more prevalent in the fish of 10 to 19.9 cm size range. Conclusion: The study led to the conclusion that fIt was concluded that B. soporato, C. nigrodigitatus, C. gariepinus and S. clarias from the Calabar River, landed at Nsidung beach are susceptible to helminth infection, and it is recommended that all fishes of the Calabar River, landed at Nsidung beach should be properly cooked or roasted before consumption to guard against health implications frompossible human infection by some parasites.