Intestinal Helminth Parasites of Fishes of Orashi River, Ebocha Axis, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to investigate the parasites of some freshwater fishes in Orashi River at Ebocha Axis, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), Rivers State, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy-nine (179) fish specimens were examined, comprised of 14 different species. Fish species were caught by fishers using cast nets from the water body. The fish species were the catfish (Auris heudelotti, n = 25) and Clarias anguillaris (n=20), Caranx hippos (n=20), Sardinella maderensis (n=20), Oreochromis niloticus (n=5), Sarotherodon galileus (n=5), Tilapia dagetti (n=5), Mormyrus sp. (n=4), Labeo sp. (n=43), Phago loricatus (n= 5), Lutjanus goreensis (n = 6), Ethmalosa fimbriata (n = 5) and unspecified species (n=16). The parasites encountered were three nematodes (Cithariniella citharini, Amplicaecum sp. and Eustrongylides sp. larva), a cestode (Diphyllobothrium sp.) and a trematode (Diplodiscus sp.). Prevalence of infection ranged from 5-10% while the mean intensity of infection was between 1.0-1.5 parasites per infected host. Parasites were encountered only in the catfish, Clarias anguillaris. In conclusion, low parasite diversity and prevalence were observed in the study population.