Contracaecum and Ligula Intestinalis Parasites in Oreochromis Niloticus and Labeobarbus Fishes in Lake Tana, Ethiopia
Abrham A Tsegaye*, Melkie Gebrie, Moges Maru Bimrew Admasu, Seid Kassaw, Gashaw Abebe
ABSTRACT
This study was held between December 2023 and July 2024, on the incidence of Conteracaecum and L.intestinalis larvae in fish from the eastern Gulf of Lake Tana. In the study 253 O.niloticus and 131 Labeobarbus fishes were examined. The collective prevalence of these larval parasites in both fish species was determined to be 31%. Specifically, O. niloticus and Labeobarbus exhibited an infection rate of 31.2% and 30.5% respectably. Contracaecum larvae was infective in both species of fishes at its infective rate of 22.7% and L. intestinalis larvae was isolated only from Labeobarbus fish and its occurrence
was 8.3%. Comparing the two parasites’ larvae, contracaecum exhibited a statistically higher prevalence (P= 0.000) than L. intestinalis. The prevalence of Contracaecum and L. intestinalis larvae was notably greater in females (38.5%) compared to males (22.2%). Significance statistical variances were observed in fish length (P = 0.022) and weight (P=0.001) categories, respectively that the longer and heavier fishes were more prevalent. The average parasite burden per fish was calculated as three Contracaecum larvae and 1.5 L. intestinalis larvae. As conclusion the two parasites burden was important predicament for
fish production in Lake Tana. Thus, implementing parasitic control measures may help to control the problem.
