Preliminary Study Of The Prevalence Of Helminths And Their Associated Pathological Lesions In Four Fish Species From River Tana

摘要

(25.6%) Clarias spp., 10/43 (23.2%) Cyprinus carpio and 7/43 (16.3%) Barbus spp. On postmortem examination, numerous third stage Contraceacum larval worms were found in the abdominal cavity, muscles and behind the gills. A total of 91% of catfish (Clarias spp.) and 20 percent tilapia fish (Oreochromis spp.) had moderate to severe Contraceacum worm infestation. The intensity of infestation ranged from 1 to 593 helminths per fish which provoked severe peritonitis and adhesions on the visceral organs. On microscopy, the helminths caused severe infiltration of heterophils, macrophages, plasma cells and organ fibrosis.rnThere was pressure atrophy of bile duct epithelium in one tilapia caused by lodged migratory tapeworm pleurocercoid, a Cryptocotyle protozoan parasite embedded on the gill arch and parasitic granulomatous lesions on the wall of the intestines.rnOther lesions observed were heamorrhages, ulcers and wounds on the fins, around the mouth and on the skin. Results of this study indicate that riverine fish from River Tana are infested with helminths, which cause severe pathological lesions in affected fish. These fish may also act as reservoirs of these parasites to the farmed fish.