Author(s): Tiya Amdisa Areda, Marshet Adugna Mitiku, Yohannes Hagos Woldearegay, Awote Teklu and Selenat Getachew

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2016 to April, 2017 to determine the prevalence, parasite genera and associated risk factors of fingerling fish parasites in small scale fish farms found in South West Shewa Zone, Oromia. Out of the total Nile tilapia fish sampled for the study, 77.60% were found infected with different parasites. Higher prevalence of external parasites (32.29%) than internal parasites (20.31%) were encountered in the current study. Different parasites belonging to different taxonomic groups namely Trichodina (8.85%), Euclinostomum spp (7.81%), Dactylogyrids spp (4.95%), Plerocercoid spp. (2.34%), Acanthocephala spp. (2.08%), Contracaecum spp. (2.08%), Clinostomum spp (1.30%) and Black spot (0.52%) were recovered from the positive sampled fish. Besides, higher proportion of mixed infection (47.66%) was found. Distribution of parasitic genera was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05) across sexes, body weights, total lengths and collection months of the sampled fish in that male fish (79.71%), fish with body weight of 50-100g (81.00%), fish with total length of >20cm (92.00%) were found to be highly infected with parasites. Temporal variation also seen with collection month that the higher prevalence was recorded in fish samples collected from January-February (93.91%). In this study, higher prevalence of fingerling fish parasite infestation (both external and internal parasites) was recorded. Therefore, due attention should be given to prevent and control the parasite burden of the study area.

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