Monthly sampling of catches at the confluence area of Niger and Benue rivers was carried out between March 2007
and February 2008 to determine the occurrence of parasites in Synodontis sorex as part of a larger research work on
parasites of Siluriformes. A total of 64 hosts were examined and the prevalence of infection was 59.37%. Parasite
species encountered included the protozoan Trichodinids, 2 digeneans (Allocreadium ghanensis, Metacercaria of
Pygidiopsis spp), 2 cestodes (Monobothrioides woodlandii, Bothriocephalus acheilognathii), 5 nematodes
(Procamallanus laevionchus, Rhabdochona congolensis, Spinitectus guntheri, Camallanus spp, Contracaecum spp)
and acanthella - the larval stages of acanthocephalans). Nematode parasites infected Synodontis sorex more than
other parasite groups, with Camallanus spp recording the highest prevalence of 28.13%. Infection of S.sorex was
between 26-100+ gm weight classes and 0-30cm length classes. The overall worm burden was independent of sex of
the fish hosts.
Key Words: Parasites, infection, Synodontis sorex, confluence, River Niger, River Benue.
PAPER TITLE :PARASITES OF SYNODONTIS SOREX (GUNTHER, 1866 MOCHOKIDAE, SILURIFORMES) IN RIVERS NIGER AND BENUE AT THE CONFLUENCE AREA IN LOKOJA, NIGERIA
FUTA JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE | VOLUME 11 NUMBER 1 2015
Paper Details
- Author(s) : F.O. Iyaji, 2J.E. Eyo, O.O. 1Falola and 1M.A. Okpanachi
- Abstract:
