A preliminary study of parasitic infections of some fishes from Okhuo River, Benin City, Nigeria.

Abstract

A survey of fishes of the OkhuoRiverwas conducted between August and November 2004 to determine the fish types, abundance and prevalence of parasitic infection. The fish were collected with gill nets and with hook and line. Ten fish species in nine genera and six families were encountered. The family Cichlidae formed 44.44% of the total number of individuals while the rest were Notopteridae, Characidae, Malapteruridae, Channidae and Anabantidae. Nematode parasites were only recorded. Two nematode parasite species Procamallanus sp (50% prevalence) and Cucullanus barbi of 33.3% prevalence were observed in the intestine of Chromiclotiapia guentheri. Spinitectus sp had 16.7% prevalence in Parachanna obscura. The overall parasitic infection rate was 6.94%.