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ABSTRACT This research was conducted to examine the presence of parasites in freshwater crabs Sudanonautes africanus found in the Ikoro River, situated in the Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The geographical coordinates of Ikoro lie between 5°25'E and 5°30'N latitude and 6°15'N and 6°19'N longitude. A total of fifty crabs were collected during the sampling period from local fishermen who used handmade basket traps and palm nut bait for crab capture. These crabs were subsequently transported to the laboratory at the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City, for identification and parasite examination. In the laboratory, all soft tissues of the crabs were meticulously examined, and the parasites found in infected crabs were counted and preserved in 10% formalin in properly labeled sample bottles for further identification. The study revealed an overall parasite prevalence rate of 18%, with the identified parasites being trematode cercariae. The characteristics of these Trematode cercariae included the presence of distinct internal structures such as ventral and oral suckers, as well as observable larval movement and a sturdy cyst wall. Based on these findings, it was concluded that S. africanus crabs from the Ikoro River in Edo State serve as the second intermediate host for an as-yet-unidentified trematode species. Despite the relatively low infection rates and parasite burden, it is noteworthy that Sudanonautes africanus could potentially act as a source of human infection. This is of significant concern for public health, as parasitic diseases caused by trematodes continue to be a major global public health issue.
