Parasites associated with Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) from dam, plastic and concrete ponds in Bauchi metropolis, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Fish farming is an economic venture to make up the supply of human need of animal protein. Parasitic infections are some of the factors hindering high fish productivity in fish farms. Parasites associated with Clarias gariepinus were detected in Bauchi metropolis. A total of eighteen fishes were sampled, comprising of 6 plastic pond fish, 6 concrete pond fish and 6 dam fish were examined for parasite infestation. The fins, gills and skin of the fishes were examined for ectoparasites, while the lining of the gut lumen and gut contents were examined for endoparasites. Four parasitic species were encountered, these include, 2 protozoan: Trichodina spp., Ichthyophthiriusmultifilis, and 2 Helminthes (cestodes): Diphyllobothrium dendriticum, Diphyllobothrium latum. Ichthyophthirus muftifilis were the most common parasites found in dam and pond samples examined. Of the eighteen examined, 5(27.8%) were infected. The infection rate constitutes 16.7% of the total parasite encountered for fishes in pond and 50% of fishes in dam. Among the body parts of the sampled fishes from the pond, the gill 16.7% and fins 16.7% had the same percentage of parasite per location, while skin had 16.7% and also the intestine 33.3% had the highest percentage per location of the fish sampled from the dam. The collection comprises of different sizes of the total length, 19cm-48cm and also between 150-750g. Bigger fishes had more parasites than smaller ones. The ectoparasites encountered were found on the skin, fins and gills, whereas the small intestine was site for all the endoparasites recovered.