By Ugbor, Ogechi Nnabuchi
A study based on monthly sampling of catches in Anambra river system (Otuocha station) was carried out between May 2013 and April 2014 to investigate the parasitofauna of wild clariid catfishes with reference to their prevalence, mean intensity and abundance; and also to ascertain the impact of these parasites on the physiology of its fish hosts. A total of 360 fish hosts, comprising of Clarias gariepinus (231) and Clarias anguilaris (129), were examined for parasites. Blood samples were collected from the caudal peduncle for haematological and biochemical enzymes assay using standard procedures. Six parasite species including two protozoans (Trichodina acuta and Epistylis sp.), two cestodes (Polyonchobothrium clarias and Monobothroides woodlandi) and two nematodes (Procamallanus laeviconchus and Rhabdocona congolensis) were recovered. The overall parasite prevalence is 41.1%, with protozoan parasites having the highest prevalence (25.5%), cestode (15.0%). Whereas nematode has the least parasite prevalent, infecting only 4.72% of the fish hosts. The relatively high overall parasite prevalence may be attributed to the relatively high level of domestic effluent into the river. Analysis of prevalence of parasitic infection of fish species by body weight and total length showed that parasite loads increased with increase in body weight and total length fish hosts. The study revealed that male fishes accumulate more parasites (P