Parasite Species Richness of Fish from Fish Ponds and Fingerling Sources in Central Ethiopia: It’s Implication on Aquaculture Development

Authors: Mitiku MA*

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000314

Volume 4, Issue 4

Abstract

This study was conducted from from Lake Koftu, Sebeta ponds and selected private fish farms in Wonchi area, Ethiopia. The main objective was to compare the major parasites of O. niloticus and determining fish parasites diversity and richness in the three study sites. A total of 302 O. niloticus were examined using conventional parasitological examination procedures. From the sampled fish, 11 different genera of parasites were identified in the three study sites. One genus of Protozoa, one genus of Monogenea, unidentified larvae of Cestoda, four genera of Digenea, two genera of Nematoda, one species of Acanthocephala and one genus of Crustacea were recorded. The overall prevalence of parasites of O. niloticus covering all study sites was 83.4%. The prevalence of parasites in Koftu Lake, Sebeta ponds and private fish farms were found to be 100%, 71.0% and 82.2% respectively. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the study sites in overall prevalence and mean intensity of the parasite infestations. Koftu Lake and Sebeta ponds have higher diversity indices and show the same community similarity coefficient. Values of prevalence mean intensity and diversity of the parasites were especially high in Koftu Lake and there is a need to design control strategies especially when fingerlings from the lake are used for stocking in other water bodies and intensive and small-scale fish farms.

Keywords: Koftu Lake; Fish Farms; Parasite Intensities; O. Niloticus; Parasites; Prevalence; Diversity; Ethiopia

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