Helminth Parasite Diversity in Two Clarias Species from the Ogun River and Asejire Dam, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 250 randomly selected fish specimens consisting of 72 Clarias gariepinus and 51 Clarias 
pachynema from Ogun River around the cattle market, Isheri, Ogun State. 73 C. pachynema and 54 C. 
gariepinus from Asejire Dam (which has not been reported to be polluted) in south-west Nigeria were 
sampled for helminth infection between September 2008 and February 2009. All helminthic infections 
observed and recorded were restricted to the stomach, intestine and gill chamber. The helminths 
recovered included three cestodes, Wenyonia sp., Polyonchobothrium sp. and Pleurocercoid larva, a 
nematode, Procamallanus sp. and one digenean, Clinostomum sp. Prevalence and mean intensity of 
parasitic infection were higher in specimens from the Ogun River than those from the Asejire Dam. 
Overall, parasite prevalence of 75 and 45.1% were recorded for C. gariepinus and C. pachynema from 
the Ogun River, respectively, while 25.9 and 31.5% were recorded for C. gariepinus and C. pachynema, 
respectively, for the Asejire Dam. Male C. gariepinus from the Ogun River had the highest infection rate 
(76.5%), while those from Asejire Dam had the lowest (21.43%). No significant difference in the 
prevalence of parasitic infection in relation to the host sizes (P > 0.05) was recorded; however, largest 
size fishes had no parasitic infection. Clinostomum sp. was found only in C. gariepinus and C. 
pachynema from Ogun River.