International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research

Authors
SG Solomon, S Omeji, AF Attai

Abstract
Bagrus bayad purchased from fishermen at the major landing site of Lower River Benue, Makurdi, from the months of July 2016 – February 2017 were examined for endoparasites. Out of the one 120 Bagrus bayad examined, 52 (43.3%) were infested and were observed to harbour 305 endoparasites. All the parasites recovered were nematodes: Eustrongylides excisus (65.25%), Eustrongylides tubifex (17.70%), Capillaria philipinensis (10.49%) and Camallanus sp. (6.56%) which were all found in the intestine and stomach. Intestine had higher percentage parasite infestation (63.61%) than the stomach (36.39%). There was higher parasite prevalence (46.81%) in dry season than the rainy season (41.10%). Female fish samples were more parasitized (24.01%) in rainy season and (27.24%) in dry season than their male counterparts of 15.43% in rainy season and 16.95% in dry season. Highest percentage parasite infestations (36.76%) in rainy and (53.33%) in dry season were recorded in the length group 49.9 – 59.7cm. ength group 20.2 – 30.0cm recorded the least (9.93%) percentage parasite infestation in rainy season and was free from parasites in the dry season. There was Variation in parasite load among the weight classes.