PARASITES OF FRESHWATER AND CONDITION FACTOR OF BAGRID FISHES IN ANAMBRA RIVER BASIN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Parasitological investigation of bagrid fishes in Anambra River Basin in Anambra state, Nigeria was carried out for two months between the month of April and May, 2015. A total of 102 bagrid fishes belonging to 4 genera and 7 species were subjected to parasitological investigation, only 32 fishes were infected with a parasitic prevalence of 31.4%. The species included Bagrus bayad, Auchenoglanis monkei, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, Auchenoglanis biscutatus, Bagrus docmac, Chrysichthys auratus and Clarotes laticeps. A higher prevalence (42%) in all the bagrid species sampled in relation to sex was found in the female while the male had the lesser prevalence (26.2%). The female had higher mean intensity (4.76) than the male (3.09). The parasites recovered were a monogenean Gyrodactylus; three nematode species Procamallanus laevichonchus, Camallanus and Capillaria; a cestode Wenyonia and an Acanthocephala Polymorphus spp, unidentified leech. Auchenoglanis biscutatus harboured the most amount of parasite while Bagrus docmac harbored the least amount of parasite. The gills, skin, fins, stomach, and intestine were infected with parasite. The findings of this study on Bagrus fishes revealed that the condition factor ranged from 0 .750.02 -1.6 1 0.74. The finding also shows that the b values of show a sign of negative allometric growths. The b values for the LWR of were under the range from 1.296 in A. Occidentalis to 2.181 in A. Biscutatus.