Freshwater fish species are posing health challenges by either serving as host of parasites that are harmful to man and animals. This study was conducted to determine the parasitic profile of the branchial and gastrointestinal tracts of freshwater fish species from Niger and Benue rivers at Lokoja. These fish species are Tilapia zillii, Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias species, Synodontis schall, and Megalops atlanticus. Fish samples were collected within a period of 12 months, and the species and sex of the fish were identified. The two opercula of each fish were removed and examined for parasites; parasites recovered were preserved in 0.7% physiological saline. Gastrointestinal tracts were removed from each fish, placed in physiological saline, and examined microscopically for parasites. Prevalence of parasites was calculated. The chi-square test was used to compare prevalence of parasites according to sexes, body parts examined, fish species, and parasites species, while the t-test was used to compare between gills and intestines of each fish species. The chi-square test was used to determine if any significant difference exists in prevalence between the sexes, body parts, fish species, and parasites species, while the t-test was used to determine if any significant difference exists in prevalence between the gills and intestines of each fish species. A total of seven parasites species were harboured in branchial chamber and gastrointestinal tracts of fish species from rivers Niger and Benue: Clinostomum sp. (trematode), Camallanus sp. (nematode), Capillaria sp., Rhabdochona congolensis (nematode), Contracaecum sp. (nematode), Proteocephalus sp. (cestode), and Spinitectus guntheri. T. zillii (81 (95.3%)) had the highest prevalence, while O. niloticus, Clarias sp., S. schall, and M. atlanticus had prevalence of 87 (89.7%), 96 (80.0%), 48 (70.6%), and 27 (38.6%), respectively. Out of the total fish samples examined, females (191 (80.3%)) were observed to harbour more parasites than males (148 (73.3%)). The gastrointestinal tracts (287 (65.2%)) significantly harboured more parasites than branchial chamber (52 (11.8%)). Fish species in rivers Niger and Benue are highly infected with parasites. Fish consumers should subject the fish to proper processing before consumption, as some of these parasites are of zoonotic importance.

Background Freshwater fish species are posing health challenges by either serving as host of parasites that are harmful to man and animals. This study was conducted to determine the parasitic profile of the branchial and gastrointestinal tracts of freshwater fish species from Niger and Benue Rivers at Lokoja. Fish samples were collected within a period of 12 months, the species and sex of the fish were identified. The two opercula of each fish were removed and examined for parasites, parasites recovered were preserved in 0.7% physiological saline. Gastrointestinal tracts were removed from each fish, placed in physiological saline and examined microscopically for parasites. Prevalence of parasites was calculated and comparison among categories was done using chi-square and student t-test. Results A total of seven parasites species were harboured in branchial chamber and gastrointestinal tracts of fish species from Rivers Niger and Benue at Lokoja; Clinostomum sp. (trematode), Camallanus sp. (nematode), Capillaria sp., Rhabdochona congolensis (nematode), Contracaecum sp. (nematode), Proteocephalus sp. (cestode) and Spinitectus guntheri. T. zilli 81(95.3%) had the highest prevalence while O. niloticus, Clarias sp., S. schall and M. atlanticus had prevalence of 87(89.7%), 96(80.0%), 48(70.6%) and 27(38.6%) respectively with prevalence of 191(80.3%) and 148(73.3%) in females and males respectively. The gastrointestinal tracts 287(65.2%) was significantly harboured more parasites than branchial chamber 52(11.8%). Conclusion Fish species in Rivers Niger and Benue are highly infected with parasites. Fish consumers should subject the fish to proper processing before consumption, as some of these parasites maybe of zoonotic importance.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is a neuroleptic and antipsychotic medication for individuals suffering from schizophrenia and other medical conditions. This study investigated the effects of CPZ on the hematological, biochemical, and biometric characteristics in juvenile Clarias gariepinus. The sh were exposed to 0.53, 1.06 and 2.11 mgl −1 CPZ for 15 days after which they were withdrawn from the toxicant and allowed to recover for 5 days. Blood were sampled from the sh on day 1, 5, 10, 15 and during the 5day recovering for hematological and biochemical analysis and thereafter, the sh were sacri ced for the morphometric analysis. While the values of the white blood cells signi cantly increased in the exposed sh, the hemoglobin, erythrocytes and packed cell volume decreased. Compared with the control, there were no signi cant differences in the values of the blood derivatives in the exposed sh. The values of protein and glucose reduced but that of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were signi cantly elevated. Though there was no signi cant difference in the condition factor, a signi cant increase in hepatosomatic index occurred on day-15 at 5.28 mg/L CPZ.After the 5-day withdrawal from the drug, most of the studied parameters returned to the control values. The present study indicated that CPZ is toxic to sh and should be used with utmost care to guard against toxicological effect on non-target organisms.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is a neuroleptic and antipsychotic medication for individuals suffering from schizophrenia and other medical conditions. This study investigated the effects of CPZ on the hematological, biochemical, and biometric characteristics in juvenile Clarias gariepinus. The fish were exposed to 0.53, 1.06 and 2.11 mgl−1 CPZ for 15 days after which they were withdrawn from the toxicant and allowed to recover for 5 days. Blood were sampled from the fish on day 1, 5, 10, 15 and during the 5-day recovering for hematological and biochemical analysis and thereafter, the fish were sacrificed for the morphometric analysis. While the values of the white blood cells significantly increased in the exposed fish, the hemoglobin, erythrocytes and packed cell volume decreased. Compared with the control, there were no significant differences in the values of the blood derivatives in the exposed fish. The values of protein and glucose reduced but that of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly elevated. Though there was no significant difference in the condition factor, a significant increase in hepatosomatic index occurred on day-15 at 5.28 mg/L CPZ. After the 5-day withdrawal from the drug, most of the studied parameters returned to the control values. The present study indicated that CPZ is toxic to fish and should be used with utmost care to guard against toxicological effect on non-target organisms.