Occurrence of Trypanosoma in Nile tilapia in Lake Victoria, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Lates niloticus (Nile perch) are the most abundant
species and economically important fish in Lake Victoria. The former are omnivores and
the latter are carnivorous. The carrier status of haemoparasites in fish was investigated in
22 randomly selected fish specimens, 12 Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and 10 Lates
niloticus (Nile perch). Live fish were bought from Homabay on the shores of Lake Victoria in
Kenya. All the fish were bled by cardiac puncture using a 22 gauge needle. Thin blood smears
were made, stained with Giemsa and observed under a light microscope. About 42% of Nile
tilapia and 0% Nile perch were found to be infected with Trypanosoma spp. Oreochromis
niloticus seems to be more susceptible to Trypanosoma spp. infection than the L. niloticus.
Description
Keywords
Nile tilapia, Nile perch, Rypanosoma, Lake Victoria