Gill Monogeneans Infestation and Condition Factor Assessment of Hemichromis fasciatus (Cichlidae) from the Ebrie Lagoon, Côte d’Ivoire
Yedehi Euphrasie ADOU
*
Research Unit on Ecology and Biodiversity, Laboratory of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, 02 P.O. Box 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.
Kassi Georges BLAHOUA
Research Unit on Hydrobiology, Laboratory of Natural Environments and Biodiversity Conservation, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, 22 P.O. Box 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire.
Bouaye Carole Sérincia ADOU
Research Unit on Hydrobiology, Laboratory of Natural Environments and Biodiversity Conservation, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, 22 P.O. Box 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire.
Nounagnon Darius TOSSAVI
Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Ecology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
Yamba SINARÉ
Laboratory of Animal Biology and Ecology, Joseph Ki Zerbo University, 07 P.O. Box 5246 Ouagadougou 07, Burkina Faso.
Seydou TIHO
Research Unit on Ecology and Biodiversity, Laboratory of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, 02 P.O. Box 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study investigated the gill parasitofauna of the cichlid fish Hemichromis fasciatus in sectors III and IV of the Ebrie Lagoon, areas subjected to varying anthropogenic pressures, from February 2019 to January 2020. Using standard parasitological methods, five (5) Monogenean species were identified: Cichlidogyrus falcifer, C. sanseoi, C. longicirrus, Onchobdella voltensis, and O. bopeleti. Spatial analysis revealed higher parasite infestations (P = 96.12%; IM = 26.22±0.2) in fish from sector III, which was characterized by lower oxygen levels (2.5 g/l) and reduced water transparency, compared to sector IV. Additionally, host sex significantly influenced parasitic burden. Condition factor assessments showed that infested fish had poorer body condition (K = 0.48±0.2 g/cm3) than non-infested individuals (K = 1.6±0.2 g/cm3), highlighting the detrimental effects of parasitic infections on host health. These findings emphasize the role of environmental and biological factors in shaping parasite dynamics in lagoon ecosystems.
Keywords: Gill Monogeneans, infestation, fish, Ebrie lagoon