Assessment of the effects of plerocercoid larvae of Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda) on Engraulicypris sardella (Cyprinidae) from northern Lake Nyasa/Malawi/Niasa

Authors

  • A. Msafiri Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 98, Kyela, Mbeya, Tanzania
  • K. Kwendwa Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 98, Kyela, Mbeya, Tanzania
  • P. G. Nestory Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 98, Kyela, Mbeya, Tanzania
  • M. Alistidia Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 98, Kyela, Mbeya, Tanzania

Keywords:

prevalence, mean intensity, condition factor, fecundity

Abstract

Engraulicypris sardella (Günter, 1868) is a cyprinid fish exploited in the waters of Lake Nyasa that has been found to be infested by Ligula intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1758). Although L. intestinalis has been the subject of a number of studies, there is no information on the effects of this parasite on E. sardella. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the prevalence and intensity of the parasite L. intestinalis, condition of the fish and impact on fecundity of E. sardella. Data recorded for each individual fish included: total length, weight, sex and maturity stage, number of parasites, gonad assessment and egg count. Number, length and total weight of  L. intestinalis found per fish host were recorded.

The average infestation rate from the two landing sites (Matema and Kafyofyo) was 32.5%. Kafyofyo had the highest infestation rate (50%) and Matema (15%); on average, each infested fish had 1.7 parasites. The majority of infested fish carried one parasite (57%) with 23.1% having two parasites, 13.8% three parasites, 1.5% four parasites and 4.6% five parasites. There was significant difference between the weight of fish with parasites and those without parasites (P < 0.05). Mean length and weight of parasites was 73.6 mm and 0.25 g, respectively. There was also a significant difference between the weight of gonads of infested and non-infested fish (P < 0.05). The average weight of gonads from infested fish was 0.28 g, while that of non-infected fish was 0.32 g. Gonads of all infected fish were atrophied. Number of eggs (fecundity) decreased significantly with parasite infestation. Condition factors of both infected and uninfected fish did not show any significant difference (Mann-Whitney U-test P > 0.01). Therefore, it was concluded that L. intestinalis parasites affect fecundity and consequently inhibit the reproductive capacity of this cyprinid fish population.

References

Allison, E. H., Peterson, G., Irvine, K., Thompson, A. B. and Menz, A. 1995. “The pelagic ecosystem”. In The Fishery and productivity of the zone of Lake Malawi / Nyasa, Edited by: Menz, A. 351–367. Chatham: Natural Resources Institute.

Bagenal, T. B. and Tesch, A. T. 1978. Conditions and Growth Patterns in Fresh Water Habitats, Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Braga, F. M. S. 1986. Estudo entre o fator de condicao e relação peso/comprimento paraalguns peixes marinhos (Study between the condition factor and weight / length relationship paraalguns marine fish. In Spanish). Rev. Brazil. Biol., 46(2): 339–346.

Bush, A., Fernandez, J., Esch, G. and Seed, J. 2001. Parasitism: the diversity and ecology of animal parasites, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dick, T. and Choudhury, A. 1995. “Cestoidea (Phylum Platyhelminthes)”. In Fish Diseases and Disorders Volume 1, Protozoan and Metazoan Infections, Edited by: Woo, P. T. K. 391–414. Wallingford, , UK: CAB International.

Ergonul, M. B. and Altindag, A. 2005. The occurrence and dynamics of Ligula intestinali in its cyprinid fish host, Tench, Tinca tinca, in Mogan Lake Ankara, Turkey. Vet. Med–Czech, 50(12): 537–542. 2005

Fulton, T. 1902. Rate of growth of seas fishes. Sci. Invest. Fish. Div. Scot. Rept., 20

Kennedy, C. 1974. A checklist of British and Irish freshwater fish parasites with notes on their distribution. J. Fish. Biol., 6: 613–644.

Loot, G., Poulin, R., Lek, S. and Guegan, J.-F. 2002. The differential effects of Ligula intestinalis (L.) plerocercoids on host growth in three natural populations of roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.). Ecol. Freshw. Fish, 11: 168–177.

Nikolsky, G. 1963. The Ecology of Fishes, London: Academic Press.

Nsinda, P. E., Msuku, B. S. and Mrosso, H. D. 2013. Fishing for Dagaa with 5 mm and 10 mm mesh nets: A comparison of length-frequencies and biological characteristics in Lake Victoria. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Mmgt, 16(3): 322–328.

Okedi, J. The Engraulicypris “Dagaa” fisheries of Lake Victoria with special reference to the southern waters of the Lake. p 445–484. Proceedings of the workshop of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute on aquatic resource of Kenya, 1981 July 13–19, Mombasa.: Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and National Academy for Advancement of Arts and Sciences.

Paperna, I. 1980. Parasites, infections and diseases of fish in Africa. FAO, CIFA Tech. Paper no. 7, Rome: FAO.

Paperna, I. 1996. Parasites, Infections and Diseases of Fishes in Africa: An Update FAO/CIFA Technical Paper No.31

Sorensen, R. E. and Minchella, D. J. 1998. Parasite influence on host life history: Echinotoma revolutum Parasitism of lymnaea elodes snails. Oecologia, 115: 188–195.

Tweddle, D. and Lewis, D. S. C. 1990. The Biology of Usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) in relation to functions in productivity of Lake Malawi and species introductions. Coll. Rep. Fish. Res., : 67–72. Malawi: OCC.pap.1

Van Dobben, W. H. 1952. The food of the commorants in the Netherlands. Ardea, 40: 1–63.

Downloads

Published

2014-01-02

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2014): Protecting Great Lakes of the World: Managing Exploitation with Ecosystem-Based Science (GLOW VII)

Section

Research article

License

Manuscripts must be original. They must not be published or be under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. It is required that the lead author of accepted papers complete and sign the MSU Press AEHM Author Publishing Agreement and provide it to the publisher upon acceptance.