ISSN : 2663-2187

Myxozoans (Cnidaria: Myxobolidae) parasites of Labeobarbusbatesii (Boulenger, 1903) (Teleostei:Cyprinidae) in Makombè River, Littoral Region of Cameroon: diversity, ecological status, determinants of monoparasitism and polyparasitism

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FEUDJIO-DONGMO Bienvenu1, LEKEUFACK-FOLEFACK Guy Benoît2*, DAMBAYA Beatrice3, DELI Arnaud2,ONANA-ATEBA Nelly Ornelle2,TCHOUTEZO-TIWA Amandine Estelle2, FOMENA Abraham2
» doi: 10.33472/AFJBS.6.5.2024. 196-214

Abstract

Purpose: The degree of association between myxozoan species can reveal how these parasites are contracted and what occur after their recruitment. Materials and Methods: Fish caught were examined for myxozoan infections. The prevalence and mean cysts load were estimated. Analysis of the ecological status of each myxozoan species was done. Dice’s and tetrachoriccoefficients were used to measure the degree of association between two parasite species. Forbes' index was used to measure the amount of parasites association deviation from expectation. Results: Five Myxobolus species were identified. Myxobolus sp. and M. paludinosus appeared frequent while M. makombensis, M. njoyai and M. dibombensis appeared intermediate. The mean cyst load was high for Myxobolus sp., low for M. paludinosus and M. dibombensis, very low for M. njoyai and M. makombensis. In the fish population examined, 5.94% were free of parasite, 19.18% harbor a single parasite species while 74.89% exhibit polyparasitism. Except a single case of negative interaction recorded, increase of prevalence of each species of myxosporidia recorded leads to an increase in the prevalence of others parasites species.

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