Parasites of Public Health Importance in Nile and Cultured Fish in El-Minya Governorate

Abstract

The present work aimed to investigate the prevalence of zoonotic parasites in the Nile and cultured freshwater fish in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt. A total of 200 fish samples (100 Nile and 100 cultured) included 50 for each; Tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus), catfish (Clarias gariepinus), bajad (Bagrus bajad) and carp fish (Cyprinus carpio) were randomly collected from markets and some fish farms from El-Minya city. Out of 200 examined fish 187 samples were infested by one or more zoonotic parasites with a prevalence of 93.5%, highest infestation rate was detected in Nile fish 100 % compared to 87 % in farmed ones. The total prevalence of Encysted metacercaria (EMC) among examined fish was 86.5%; it was 88% and 85% in Nile fish and farmed fish, respectively. Microscopic (EMC) was detected in 83 and 73% of Nile fish and farmed fish, respectively, while macroscopic (EMC) was detected in 5 and 12% of farmed fish and Nile fish, respectively. Microscopic (EMC) was identified as: Cynodiplostomum (EMC) and Prohemistomum (EMC) while, macroscopic (EMC) was identified as Clinostomum phalacrocoracis. On the other hand, the total prevalence of Ichanthochephala among examined fish was 8 %, it was 13 and 3 % in Nile fish and farmed respectively, while the total prevalence of Cryptospordium spp and Capillaria spp. among examined fish was 39 and 14.5 %, respectively. The current study revealed a variable prevalence of different zoonotic parasites in different species of examined fish, which represents a potential risk to public health if consumed raw or improperly cooked.