ABSTRACT
The prevalence, mean intensity and abundance of fish parasites at Ikpa River in Akwaibom State of Nigeria were carried out in this research. Thirteen (13) species of fish belonging to seven orders and six families were collected. Among the fishes found were, Papyrocranus afer, Tylosorus crocodilus, Parachanna africana, Dalophis boulengeri, Clarias gariepinus, Tilapia zilli, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Oreochromis niloticus, Melapterurus electricus, Tilapia guineensis, Sarotheroron melanotheron, Chrysichthys aluuensis and Clarias anguillaris. Classes of parasites identified were as follows: Cestoda, Nematoda, Trematoda, Acanthocephalans, Protozoans, Crustaceans and Digeneana trematoda. The parasites were noted to be attacking specific body areas of fish like eyes, intestine and muscles. However, among the parasites found were, in Class Cestoda: Diphyllobothrium latum and Proteocephalus species. In Class Nematoda: Contracaecum, Camallanus, Rhabdochona, Spinitectus, Philometra, Procamallanus and Capillaria species. In Class Trematoda: Clinostomum and Diplostomum species. Class Digenanea trematode: Neascus specie. Class Acanthocephalana: Leptorhynchoides, Corynosoma wegeneri, and Neochinorhynchus species. Class Protozoan: Ichthyophthirus multifiliis and Myxosoma cerebralis species. Class Crustacean: Ergasilus, Argulus, Lernaea cyprinacea and Cymothoa exigua species. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the distribution, mean intensity, abundance and prevalence of parasites (1.419%) of fishes found in the River. There were no specific parasites associated with a particular fish. Some parasites like Diplostomun Species, were specifically found in the eyes of the fish, while others were predominantly found in organs like operculum, scales, eyes and muscles. There were more intestinal parasites found among the fishes than other parasites. Among the intestinal parasites are; Diphyllobothrium latum, Corynosoma wegeneri, Procamallanus, Proteocephalalus, Leptorhynchoides, Neochinorhynchus, Rhabdochona, philometra, Contracaecum, Spinitectus, Capillaria and Camallanus species. Among the parasites associated with flesh were Myxosoma cerebralis, ectoparasites Lernaea cyprinacea, Philometra and Argulus species. The gills were associated with Ichthyophthirus multifiliis, Neascus, Ergasilus and Cymothoa exigua species. While the scales and fins were habouring Argulus, Rhabdochona, Philometra and Clinostomum species. The high prevalence, abundance and mean intensity of parasites of Ikpa River could be due to anthropogenic activities. Moreover, the physicochemical parameters of the River are conducive for proliferation of the parasites in Ikpa River.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of contents vi
List of Tables x
List of figures xii
List of Plates xiii
Abstract xiv
CHAPTER
1
1.0 Introduction
1
1.1 Statement
of the problems 2
1.2 Specific
objectives of the study 3
1.3 Justification 3
CHAPTER
2
2.0 Literature
Review 4
2.1 Fish Parasites: An overview 4
2.2 Types of fish parasites 4
2.3 Microparasites and Macroparasites of
fish 5
2.3.1 Protozoa 5
2.3.1.1 Ciliates 6
2.3.1.2 Flagellates 6
2.3.1.3 Microsporidia 6
2.3.1.4 Coccidian 7
2.3.1.5 Myxozoa 7
2.3.2 Trematoda 7
2.3.3 Cestoda 8
2.3.4 Nematoda 8
2.3.5 Acanthocephala 9
2.3.6 Crustacea 9
2.3.7 Huridinea 10
2.4 Parasites and their effect on
freshwater fish host 10
2.5 Factors affecting parasite
assemblages on fish host 11
2.5.1 Fish size 11
2.5.2 Fish sex 12
2.5.3 Fish immune status 13
2.5.4 The condition of the environment 13
2.5.5 Fish Diet 14
CHAPTER
3
3.0 Materials
and Methods 15
3.1
The study area: Geography of the study area 15
3.2 The collections of fish samples 20
3.3 Identification
of fishes for experiment 20
3.4. Techniques of sampling fish for presence
of parasites 20
3.5 Determination
of physicochemical parameters 21
3.5.1 pH
21
3.5.2 Total alkalinity 21
3.5.3 Total ammonia 22
3.5.4 Temperature 22
3.5. 5 Turbidity 22
3.5. 6 Hardness 22
3.5. 7 Dissolved oxygen 22
3.6 Data
Analysis 23
3.7. Statistical Analysis 23
3.8. Experimental Design and Data Collection 23
CHAPTER
4
4.0 Results 24
4.1 Fish
diversities of Ikpa River 26
4.2 Families
of fishes found in Ikpa River 26
4.3 Types
of Fishes found in Ikpa River 27
4.4 Some
Pictures of Fishes Found in Ikpa River, Itu L.G.A. Akwaibom 29
4.5 Parasites
of Fishes found in Ikpa River 32
4.6 Classes
and species of fish parasites found in Ikpa River 32
4.7 Fish
order and parasites found according to the fish body parts where they
are Prevalent 33
4.8 Some
Pictures of Fish Parasites Found in Ikpa River, Itu L.G.A.,
Akwaibom State 38
4.9 The
Prevalence, Mean Intensity and abundance of Paeasites Harboured in the
difference organs of fishes found in Ikpa River, Akwaibom State. 44
4.10 Numbers
of Parasites found in different fishes of Ikpa River 52
4.11 Mean
intensity, abundance and prevalence of parasites found in
different
fishes of Ikpa river 53
CHAPTER
5
5.1 Discussions 57
5.2 Conclusion 65
5.3 Recommendations 65
References
LIST
OF TABLES
Physicochemical parameters of Ikpa
River sampled during the experiment 25
Parasites of species of fish
in order Siluiriformes 33
Parasites of species of fish in order Anguiliformes 34
Parasites of species of fish in order
Osteoglossiformes 34
Parasites of species of fish in order Anabantiformes 35
Parasites of species of fish in order Beloniformes 35
Parasites of species of fish in order Perciformes 36
Parasites of species of fish in order Cichliformes 37
Gill parasites 44
Operculum Parasite 45
Scales parasites 46
Fin parasites 47
Skin parasites 48
Eye parasites 49
Flesh parasites 50
Intestine parasites 51
Numbers of parasites found in different fishes of ikpa
river 52
Mean intensity, abundance and prevalence of parasites
of T. zilli and
T.
guineensis 53
Mean intensity, abundance and prevalence of parasites
on C. anguillaris
and C.
gariepinus 53
Mean
intensity, Abundance and prevalence of parasites on O.
niloticus
and C. gariepinus 53
Mean intensity, abundance and prevalence of parasites
on S.
melanotheron
and M.
electricus 54
Mean intensity, Abundance and prevalence of parasites
on T.
zilli and C. 54
gariepinus
Mean intensity, Abundance and prevalence of parasites
on P. africana
and C.gariepinus 55
Mean intensity, abundance
and prevalence of parasites onP. afer
and
T.crocodilus 55
Mean intensity, abundance
and prevaluence of parasites onP. afer
and
O.niloticus 56
Mean intensity, abundance
and prevalence of parasites on P.
africana and T. zilli 56
LIST
OF FIGURES
Geography of the study area 15
D.
boulengeri 29
P.afer 29
C. gariepinus 28
P. africana 30
T.crocodilus 30
C.
nigrodigitatus 31
T. zilli 31
Posterior part of Diphyllobothrium latum sp. found in the
intestine of P. africana 38
Anterior
portion of Diphyllobothrium latum sp.
found in the intestine of 38
P. africana
Proteocephalus sp. Found in the intestine
of T. zilli 38
Contracaecum sp. found in the intestine
of T.zilli 39
Camallanus sp. found in the intestine O. niloticus 39
Rhabdochona sp. found in the scale of P. afer 39
Spinitectus sp. found in the intestine
of T. crocodilus 40
Philometriodes sp. found in the operculum
of P.africana 40
Procamallanus sp. found in the intestine
of D. boulengeri 40
Capillaria sp. Found in the intestine
of C. anguillaris 41
Leptorhynchoide sp. found in the intestine
of P. africana 41
Neoechinorhynchus sp. found in the intestine
of M. electricus 41
Myxosoma cerebralis sp. found in the skin of P. afer 42
Myxosoma cerebralis sp. found in the flesh of O. niloticus 42
Argulus sp. found in the fin of P. Africana 42
Lernaea cyprinacea sp. found in the skin of C. gariepinus 43
Cymothoa exigua sp. found in the gill of T. zilli 43
LIST
OF PLATES
Bridges crossing Ikpa river 17
Sand dredging area in Ikpa river 17
Abattoir located around Ikpa river major
source of contamination 18
Effluents
from the abattoir into Ikpa river body 18
Abandoned fishing landing area
showing weeds overgrowing river 19
Abandoned Fishing area showing aquatic macrophytes in the
river 19
CHAPTER
1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Ikpa River is the mainstay of
five local government areas in traditional agricultural belt in Akwaibom State.
It houses some important commercial and economic fish species for the various
communities in the state and its environs which are exploited both at the
artisanal and subsistence level of fisheries. Dredging, cassava fermentation,
timber transportation etc. are the uses of this river. Moreover, Akwaibom State
is fast growing and developing into a big city. This brings along human
anthropogenic activities and unrestricted dumping of pollutants into the river.
However, there is subsistence
fishing, and it was suspected that, with the abattoir close by, fishes could
harbour parasitic infections. Also other anthropogenic activities such as
fishing, and dredging, logging and effluents is causing water turbidity and
other physicochemical imbalance. With these human activities, the purity of the
water is distorted and abundance of fishes were affected. The gradual death of
the water is compounded by heavy eutrophication caused due to the sitting of
abattoir at the river bank. The depth of the river had drastically reduced and
most canoes cannot access the river anymore. The odiok harbor on the Ikpa River
is now deserted with very low anthropogenic activities and most commercial
activities in the water had ceased.
In this river, there are different
species of fish which undoubtedly could be impacted by the deleterious effect
of the polluted water. These impacted effects could lead to susceptibility of
the fishes to endoparasites and ectoparasites. Endo and ectoparasites occupy a
very important sector as one of the hazardous threats to fish health (George,
2002). The increased potential for infecting humans with the fish parasites is
more common in endoparasites since tapeworms and roundworms can be passed to
human who eat undercooked or raw fish. Unlike ectoparasites, endoparasites can
and do infect humans if the fish is not prepared properly (Hoffman, 1998).
Examples of both of these groups of parasites are species of trematodes,
cestodes, nematodes and protozoans. These parasites attack the fish causing
massive destruction to the fish population.
The endoparasites
and ectoparasites found in the fish have a strong relationship with the nature
of the water. According to Paperna (1980), the nature and quality of water
determines the type of parasite inherent in fish. He observed that, endo and
ectoparasites are an outcome of the quality of water. Lafferty (2008) also
observed that, parasitic infections often give an indication of the quality of
water, since parasites generally increase in abundance and diversity in more
polluted water. More recently, Enyidi and Orji (2019) noted that ecto and endo
parasites of fish reflect the parasitic communities of culture water therefore
causing harm to the fish
In
this research, the type of fishes in Ikpa River were identified and classified.
Endoparasites and ectoparasites attacking fishes in Ikpa River were also
identified. Examination of possible relationship between parasites and body
parts of fish was done. Also the effect of anthropogenic activities on the
distribution of fish and parasites in Ikpa River were observed.
1.1 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
There
has been no survey or record of fish parasites in Ikpa River. Knowledge of fish
parasite prevalence in Ikpa River is lacking. There are also dearths of
knowledge on the examination of possible relationship between parasites and
body parts of fish. The anthropogenic activities in the river can portends
conducive environment for proliferation of parasites.
1.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To identify species of fishes in Ikpa
River.
To identify endoparasites and
ectoparasites of fishes in Ikpa River.
To examine possible relationship
between parasites and body parts of fish.
To
examine the effect of anthropogenic activities on the distribution of fishes
and parasites in Ikpa River
1.3 JUSTIFICATION
The fish stock of Ikpa River has not
previously been analyzed for presence of parasites. Anthropogenic activities
are increasing daily on the river and its banks. These can possibly create
enabling environment for parasitic infection. Hence, there is need to ascertain
the parasitic status of fishes and their prevalence in Ikpa River.
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