A SURVEY OF PROTOZOAN INFECTION OF SOME COMMERCIAL FISHES IN BIDA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

A study was conducted to identify the parasites of fresh water fish species in Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. Ten (10) specimens of Tilapia, ten specimens of Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus spp. were obtained from fishermen. The fish were collected and were examined using hand lens and microscope between June, July and August 2016. 13(65.00%) of these were infected. Parasites recovered were Chilodenella sp. 11(40.74%) Cryptobia Iubilans 2(7.41%), Icthyopthirius multifiliis 01(3.70%)  Trichodina sp. 08(29.63%), Cryptobia Iubilans 01(3.70%) Camallanus Sp. 04(14.81%). There was no significant difference in number of fish infected between sex, different group length and weight of the fish species. This study also revealed that the intensity and incidence of infection increased with increasing length, size, and weight of fish species. These findings are similar with the findings of Robert (2000), Mohammed et al. (2009), Bichi and Dawaki (2010) and Allumma and Idowu, (2011). The high infection rate in these fishes reveal the sanitary condition of the place, the location of the lake from living place. Trematodes are the most frequently encountered groups of all the parasites group isolated. There is need for more research into the life cycle of these parasites with the aim of reducing or even eliminating the load, intensity and prevalence of the parasites in fish, so as to reduce or even stop the rate of infection to man.