Two gastrointestinal parasites from freshwater sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Abstract

The sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus is a popular tropical catfish in Africa. C. gariepinus considered a good source of protein for human consumption and has been believed as an important fish for farming. The present study aims to investigate gastrointestinal parasites of C. gariepinus in a local area within Qaluobaya Governorate, Egypt. Thirty males and females C. gariepinus (Teleostei: Clariidae) were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Two parasite species were found naturally infect C. gariepinus. Polyonchobothrium clarias (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) which infected the pyloric stomach, small intestine, bile duct, and gall bladder. The other parasite was Procamallanus laeviconchus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) which infects the small intestine of C. gariepinus. The prevalence of P. clarias was 33.33 % which was higher than the prevalence of P. laeviconchus (6.67 %). The prevalence of infection in males of C. gariepinus was 26.67 %, however, the prevalence of infection in females was 6.67 % which was significantly lower than prevalence of infection in males. The total recovered P. clarias was 188 worms, while the total number of P. laeviconchus was 23 worms. It was also observed that the tissues at the infected sites were greatly destructed. This study reinforced that C. gariepinus is highly susceptible to infection with different helminths.