Acanthocephalan Parasites of Tilapia, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Publication Date: 12/10/2019
Author(s): Amuzie C.C., Okwodu N.E..
Volume/Issue: Volume 2 , Issue 2 (2019)
Abstract:
Tilapia from Okuru-Ama River, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were surveyed for the presence of acanthocephalan parasites using standard parasitological techniques. Three of the twenty-seven specimens examined were infected with Acanthocephalus sp. at a prevalence of 11.1% and mean intensity of two parasites per infected host. Though the study was conducted during the rainy season when acanthocephalan abundance should be at its peak, a low infection rate and abundance was reported. This is attributed to the small sample size (n=27) and possible changes in the population of the parasite’s intermediate hosts. Condition factor was good ranging from 34.3 to 48.6, possibly due to the low parasite infection rate observed. This study has revealed the incidence of acanthocephalan parasites in Tilapia from the study location. Ecological studies on the population dynamics of the parasite’s intermediate hosts in the river are recommended.
