Examination of Prevalence and Sex-Related Variation in Gill and Gastrointestinal Tract Parasite Infestation of Clarias Species in ‘Tella’ Area of River Taraba, Nigeria

The presence of certain parasites in Clarias species consumed in Nigeria has continued to pose some challenges to fish production in many parts of Nigeria. The present study was aimed at assessing the sex-related distribution of parasites in gills and gastrointestinal tracks of Clarias species consumed in Nigeria. Two hundred and sixty (260) Clarias species obtained from River Taraba, Taraba state was examined for the presence of gill and digestive tract parasites. One hundred and forty (140) of them were Clarias gariepinus and one hundred and twenty (120) were Clarias anguillaris. Analysis was carried out using standard parasitological techniques. The gills of the fish were removed and observed under a stereo microscope for parasites. The intestines were cut opened and viewed under the stereo microscope section-by-section. Parasites seen were recovered, fixed, and preserved in 5% formalin before they were later processed. Two gill parasites, Macrogyrodactylus sp. (a monogenean) and Ergasilus sarsi (a copepod) were recovered. The relationship between sex and gill parasite infestation was significant (p<0.05). Three parasite species namely Tetracampos ciliotheca and Monobothroides woodland (cestodes) and Procamallanus laeviconchus (nematode) were recovered from the digestive tract of both Clarias species in the river. Relationships between the sex of fish and digestive tract infestation were also significant (p<0.05).