Available online Aug 25, 2025.

[ Original ] Volume 31, Issue 5, 2025, Pages 805-813

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Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence and prevalence of fish parasites in Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia zillii from Calabar River, Nigeria. Fish samples (n=38; consisting of Oroechromis niloticus n=21 and Tilapia zillii n=17) were collected from Calabar River with the aid of local artisanal fishermen and prevalence of endo and ecto trematode fish parasites investigated using standard methods. The overall prevalence of Clinostomum species in the study was 79% with a higher prevalence in O. niloticus (55.3%) compared with T. zillii (44.7%). Two (2) Clinostomum species were encountered in this study with C. cutaneum (60%) as the dominant species, while C. tilapiae was the least prevalent species (40%). Overall, C. cutaneum was prevalent in the skin (83.3%) compared with the intestine (27.7%), while on the other hand C. tilapiae was prevalent on the intestine (75%) compared with the skin (25%). Results presented herein indicate a significant occurrence and prevalence of trematodes parasites in food fish species from the Calabar River with potential wildlife, environmental and human health concern mostly for humans who depends on fish from Calabar River as a cheap source of protein.

 

 

Keywords

 Ecto and Endo parasites, O. niloticus, T. zillii, Calabar River, Nigeria,

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