HELMINTH PARASITES OF MARINE CRAB CALLINECTES AMNICOLA COLLECTED FROM GBEKOKO RIVER, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

A four months study was carried out to investigate the helminth parasites of marine blue crab Callinectes amnicola in River Gbekoko, Delta State, Nigeria. Eighty seven live crabs were collected for a period of five months (March to July, 2018) from fishermen who caught the crabs using locally made baskets traps and palm nut baits. The crabs were transported to the laboratory, at the department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City for identification and examination for parasites. All soft tissues were thoroughly examined and parasites from infected crabs were counted and placed in 70% alcohol in labeled specimen bottles for identification. The overall prevalence of parasites was 10.34%, and parasites recovered were trematode metacercariae. Prevalence of trematode metacercariae was higher in female crabs 7(30.43%) than in the male crabs 2(8.69%). Features of the trematode metacercariae reported were presence of definite internal structures like suckers, larval movement, firm cyst wall and excretory system. It was concluded that C. amnicola from the river Gbekoko, Delta State were infected by trematode metacercariae hence the crabs serve as second intermediate hosts to a yet to be identified trematode. Although recorded infection rate and parasite burden are low, Callinectes amnicola can be a hazardous source of human infection. It is important for public health, because parasitic diseases caused by trematodes remain the major problem in public health worldwide