Prevalence and diversity of internal cestode parasites of the nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (clarias gariepinus) in different altitudes and ponds in Kenya

Abstract

This research study focused on how altitudes and ponds of fresh water affect prevalence and diversity of internal cestode parasites in the (O. niloticus) and (C. gariepinus) in Kenya. This study was designed to find the source of high mortality and retarded growth of fish farmers farming industry of these two commercial species in fresh water ponds. In many part of Kenya majorities of fish farmers complained with small and low production of quality fish. A total 520 fish samples of fresh water from farmer ponds were examined between January to June 2016 for internal cestode parasites, 100 fish were C. gariepinus and 420 of O. niloticus. These fish were collected from three counts; Kirinyaga, Kisii, and Uasin gishu. The sampled fish were placed in transportation containers (1MX1Mx1M) a half filled with water and transported alive to the laboratory for parasites examination. The specimens were slaughtered and dissected by sterilized knifes and pair of scissors from anus to the lower jaw. Three internal cestode parasites of Diphyllobothrium latum, Proteocephalus species and Caryophyllaeidea species were recovered and recorded from this study sites. The prevalence of internal cestodes parasites indicated high at Kisii 36% and Kirinyaga 35.40%, and lower in Uasin Gishu 27.70%. The study also indicate that there was a significant relationship between altitude and the number of parasites (p=0.0010); there was no significant relationship (p=0.06657) between the nature of ponds constructed and cestodes parasites prevalence and diversity. The study concluded that, this variation of altitudes and ponds had effect on parasites prevalence and diversity between sites and fish.