Advanced studies on Fish-borne Trematodes with special reference to Family: Clinostomatidae in Egypt

Abstract

Out of the 680 O. niloticus examined, 501 fish were found to be infected with one or more species of EMC, with an overall mean prevalence of 71.46 ± 4.51. The infection prevalence of EMC differed significantly according to season (P = 0.0043). Summer showed the highest infection rate (89.21 ± 6.39), followed by fall (69.53 ± 7.73) and winter (51.55 ± 4.59). Regarding the distribution of EMC among the examined sites indicated the presence of significant differences in infection prevalence (P = 0.0008) where the highest number of EMC in the investigated O. niloticus in (mean ± SD) in Giza Governorate was detected in the branchial cavity (66.93 ± 4.91), the tail region (60.20 ± 4.70) and the trunk region (43.44 ± 4.05). While, in Fayoum Governorate was detected in the tail region (68.13 ± 8.07), followed by the trunk region (45.63 ± 6.16). In addition, the lowest number was found in the liver (0.00 ± 0.00 and 16.88 ± 7.00) in Giza and Fayoum, respectively. With regard to the effect of weight and length of the examined fishes, statistically there were significant differences found in mean intensity of the examined fishes according to host weight and length (P = <.0001). In addition, the prevalence was higher in the lower host weight and length. The prevalence of EMC was higher in weight (50-100 gm) and length (15-20cm), while the lowest one was in fish more than 150 gm and 20 cm in weight and length, respectively.