Diversity, intensity and prevalence of parasites of cichlids in polluted and unpolluted end of Eleyele Dam in Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the diversity, intensity and prevalence of parasites in Cichlids. A total of 354
specimens of cichlids was sampled in polluted and unpolluted ends of Eleyele River, Ibadan, Nigeria and
examined for parasites. The total prevalence was 57.34%.Recovered parasites wereClinostomum tilapiae,
Euclinostomum heterostomum,Neascus, Allocreadium ghanensis, Phagicola longa, Alloglossidium corti and
the acanthocephalan;Acanthogyrus tilapiae and Acanthella.Clinostomum tilapiaehad higher prevalence and
abundance (42.90%) with Allocreadium corti recording least abundance (0.49%).Tilapia zilli was the most
abundant (41.53%) among the fish hosts but Oreochromis niloticus harboured the highest percentage of
parasites (80.00%). The fish hosts in the polluted end of the river harboured the highest percentage of
parasites(71.18%)against (43.50%) parasites recovered from the unpolluted end. There was a significant
difference in the parasites harboured (P<0.05). Heavy infection with a broad number of parasites in fish hosts
could reduce performance and productivity of the species, especially in fish farming