Abstract

Investigation on helminth parasitic fauna of two freshwater fishes Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus was carried out from August 2016 to January 2017. A total of 242 fish samples comprising of 117 Oreochromis niloticus and 125 Clarias gariepinus of different weights and length groups were collected from Jibia earth dam, Katisina state, Nigeria and subjected to parasitological examination. The overall prevalence of infection recorded in the two fish species was 38.43%. Clariasgariepinus recorded the highest prevalence of infection of 46.40%. Helminth parasites recovered were mainly the trematode: Neascussp, nematodes: Procamallanus laevionchus and Contracaecum sp, cestodes: Polyonchobothrium clarias, Bothriocephalus aegyptiacusand Proteocephalus glanduliger and acanthocephalan: Neoechinorhynchus rutili. Helminthic infections were recorded in the skin, stomach and intestine though majority of infection was found in the intestine. The result showed that the prevalence of infection increased with increase in the hosts size (length and weight), and infection was independent of fish sex. Infection of the helminth parasites was more prevalent in the dry season than the rainy season. No significant difference in the percentage of parasitic infection in relation to the size, sexes and season (p>0.05) was recorded; however, significant difference (p<0.05) exist in infection rate between the two species examined. Most of the parasites were recovered from the intestine, with a few from skin and stomach, therefore, removal of these fish parts and thorough cooking of fish before consumption will ensure human safety.