Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and condition factor of <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> (L.) in Kiri reservoir, Shelleng, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

It is known that a number of parasite groups from various taxa, including helminths, protozoans, and other groups, can infect fish and harm their hosts. Finding out how common
gastrointestinal parasites are in Oreochromis niloticus was the study's main goal. On the landing site a total of 200 species of O. niloticus were randomly sampled, sort and identified
using keys twice in a month for a period of six months from May to October, 2017. The total
length and standard length to the nearest 0.1 cm. was taken using a measuring ruler. The total
body weight was determined to the nearest 0.01 g using a top loading Mettler balance. Specimen was dissected and emptied in to a Petri dish. The distribution of parasite species
showed that male had 26 (48.15 %) Posthodiplostomum minimum and 16 (47.06%) Myxobolus species, while the females had 28 (51.85 %) Posthodiplostomum minimum and 18 (52.94%) Myxobolus species. Chi square was used to show the prevalence of parasites in relation to sex, length and weight. The prevalence of parasites in relation to the Standard Length showed that the size range of 15.0 to 7.9 cm had the highest parasitic infection with 24 (61.54%) infected, the size range 21.0 to 3.9 cm had the least rate with 11 (31.43%). There was statistically significant difference between parasite infection and length (cm) at p < 0.05. Therefore, there is occurrence of helminth parasites in Nile Tilapia (O. niloticus) found in Kiri reservoir, and thus good culinary practices should be adopted.