Comparative Study of the Parasitic Helminth Burden of Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zilli In Fresh Water Reservoir (Zobe Dam) Dutsin-Ma, Katsina, Nigeria

Helminth infections can cause a range of health issues as well as financial hardships for fishing communities and fish growers. This study examined the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and redbelly fish (Tilapia zilli) from Zobe Dam, Dutsin-ma. A total of 100 samples, including 50 examples of each species, were gathered. Fish were recognized, weighed and measured, then dissected to look at the gut and stomach contents. To recover helminth parasites, these ingredients were put in petri dishes with 0.9% normal saline examined under compound microscope to recover the helminth. The study demonstrated a significant prevalence of helminth parasites overall, with C. gariepinus showing a higher prevalence rate of 68% and T. zilli showing a rate of 36%. The fish intestines contained parasites from the cestode, trematode, and nematode subcategories. Notably, cestodes were more common in C. gariepinus (62.71%), but trematodes were more common in T. zilli (54.55%). The most notable species of nematode found in C. gariepinus was Procamallanus leavionchus, followed by trematodes (Diplostomum spathaceum) and cestodes (Polyonchobothrium clarias). In T. zilli, Cacullanus sp., Diphyllobothrium spp., and Hepsetidae fasciatus, respectively, were the represented nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes. Significant gender differences were found, with males of both species showing a larger burden of helminth parasites than females. Statistics revealed no gender differences in C. gariepinus, however at a significance level of P 0.05%, a gender difference in T. zilli was found to be significant. The research also found a strong link between fish length, body weight, and the prevalence of helminth infections. These results highlight the significant helminth parasite burden in both Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zilli. Therefore, there is a pressing need for efficient control methods such as Implementing appropriate treatments, including chemical and biological agents, can help manage helminth populations in fish farms to lessen the negative effects that parasite infections have on fish output.