PARASITES OF THE BRACHYURAN CRAB CARDISOMA ARMATUM FROM BAKANA IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
Ugbomeh, A.P and Bajor, P
Abstract
A study was carried out to investigate the parasites of the land crab Cardisoma armatum collected from Bakana in Rivers State of Nigeria and the possible health implications to crab consumers. Live crab specimens were collected between June and July 2014 and transported to the laboratory. The hepatopancreas, gills and cavity of the carapace of each crab were examined for parasites. The overall prevalence of parasites was 100 %. Parasites recovered were rotifers, nematodes and copepods distributed on the gills and in the hepatopancreas. Prevalence in relation to the type of parasite was 100 % for rotifers, 35 % for nematodes and 55 % for copepods. Intensity of parasite in relation to carapace width was 100 % for rotifers in all classes, nematodes were more in the 7 - 7.9 cm range with intensity of 50 % compared to other size classes, and copepods were found in all classes with intensity of 50 - 62.5 %. Organisms isolated were not parasites as there was no tissue damage. It was concluded that C. armatum from the Bakana Creek is not infested with parasites of zoonotic importance and could be recommended for human consumption.
Keywords: Land crab,Rotifers, copepods and nematodes