OCCURRENCE OF HELMINTHS ON CLARIAS GARIEPINUS (AFRICAN CATFISH) CAUGHT IN SELECTED POINTS ALONG RIVER KADUNA, NIGERIA.

Fish is an important source of food and income to many developing countries, parasites usually affect the marketability of the commercially produced fish, thus raising public health concern especially in areas where raw or smoked fish is eaten. The study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of helminths in fish sold in selected catching point along river Kaduna. A total number of eighty [80] African Catfish were randomly purchased from fishermen along River Kaduna [Malali and Kabala Doki] on weekly basis from June - December, 2018.The samples were subjected to examination for helminth parasites using standard parasitological techniques. The result shows that out of eighty [80] examined, 15[35.0%] and 11[27.5%] were infected at Malali and Kabala Doki respectively. Larger fish weighed between 601- 1000g had the highest prevalence 11[45.4%)] and 2[50%] in Malali and Kabala Doki respectively. The standard length ranges between 31-50cm from Malali and Kabala Doki had 5[50%] and 3[60%] prevalence respectively. Female sample have the highest prevalence in Malali 8[38.1%] and Kabala 7[31.8%].The helminth parasites recorded are cestode having two [2] different species [Polyonchobothrium sp. and Bothriocephalus sp.], others include Paracamellamus sp. [Nematode] and Heterophase sp. [Trematode]. Endoparasites recorded the highest number of parasite with stomach having [10] and small intestines [12] in Kabala and Malali area respectively. The statistical analysis showed no relationship between ecto and endo parasites infection. More helminth parasites were recovered from the intestine (17) than the gills and skin (03). Females were infected more with 31.8 and 38.1% than the males with 22.2 and 31.6% in Kabala Doki and Malali catching points respectively. Further research is recommended on a large scale to ascertain the level of damage on the histopathology of the tissues and organs of infected fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]