PARASITES OF PRAWN (Macrobrachium vollenhovenii) COLLECTED FROM OGIDIGBEN RIVER, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the parasites of prawn Macrobrachium vollenhovenii River Ogidigben, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. Ogidigben is located on Latitude 5.5833°N and Longitude 5.1667°E. Sixty live prawns were collected during the period of sampling from fishermen who caught the prawns using locally made basket traps and palm nut baits. The prawns 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 prawns were counted and preserved in 70% alcohol in labelled specimen bottles for identification. The overall prevalence of parasites was 28.33% and parasites recovered were trematode metacercariae. The overall prevalence of trematode metacercariae in this study was 28.33%. Features of the trematode metacercariae recovered were firm cyst wall, definite internal structures like suckers and excretory system and larval movement inside the cyst. Observed features of the trematode revealed it is a Microphallus sp. belonging to the family Microphallidae. Hence, it was concluded that the prawn M. vollenhovenii serves as a second intermediate host to this Microphallus sp. in Nigeria. Although recorded infection rate and parasite intensely were low, infected M. vollenhovenii can be a source of human infection. Therefore, there is a need for further studies considering the fact that that consumption of infected prawns is of public health importance.