Helminth Parasites of Sarotherodon galilaeus and Tilapia zillii (Pisces: Cichlidae) from River Oshun, Southwest Nigeria

Document Type : Primary Research paper

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Abstract

One hundred and thirty eight specimens of two cichlids, Sarotherodon galilaeus and Tilapia zillii from River Oshun, south-west Nigeria were examined for helminth parasites. The fish were caught using gill nets. In the laboratory, the acanthocephalans were killed and fixed in alcohol-formalin-acetic acid (AFA), stained with acetic hematoxylin, dehydrated using a graded alcohol series, cleared in xylene and mounted in DPX , while the trematodes were not stained before mounting on slides. Forty-five (32.6%) fish specimens had parasitic infection.  Two helminth species were recorded: a trematode, Clinostomum tilapiae (metacercaria), and an adult acanthocephalan, Neoechinorhynchus rutili. No sex-related differences (p > 0.05) were found in parasite burden, and there was no relationship between parasite burden and fish size (length and weight). It is concluded that the helminth parasite fauna of these species is depauperate

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Int. J. of Aquatic Science
Volume 3, Issue 2
July 2012
Pages 49-55

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