Trichinella zimbabwensis naturally infects a variety of reptilian and wild mammalian hosts in South Africa. Attempts have been made to experimentally infect piranha fish with T. zimbabwensis and T. papuae without success. Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) and African sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) are accomplished predators cohabiting with Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) and Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) in southern Africa and are natural hosts of T. zimbabwensis. To assess the infectivity of T. zimbabwensis to these two hosts, 24 African sharp tooth catfish (mean live weight 581.75 ± 249.71 g) randomly divided into 5 groups were experimentally infected with 1.0 ± 0.34 T. zimbabwensis larvae per gram (lpg) of fish. Forty-one tigerfish (mean live weight 298.6 ± 99.3 g) were randomly divided for three separate trials. An additional 7 tigerfish were assessed for the presence of natural infection as controls. Results showed no adult worms or larvae of T. zimbabwensis in the gastrointestinal tract and body cavities of catfish sacrificed at day 1, 2 and 7 post-infection (p.i.). Two tigerfish from one experimental group yielded 0.1 lpg and 0.02 lpg of muscle tissue at day 26 p.i. and 28 p.i., respectively. No adult worms or larvae were detected in the fish from the remaining groups sacrificed at day 7, 21, 28, 33 and 35 p.i. and from the control group. Results from this study suggest that tigerfish could sustain T. zimbabwensis under specific yet unknown circumstances.

The anesthetic, biochemical and pathological effects of eugenol were evaluated in the African cat-fish Clarias gariepinus in comparison with MS-222. Aquous exposure of Clarias gariepinus to eugenol at concentration of 62.5 – 250 ) g / ml showed short interval to induction than MS-222. On the other hand, eugenol provided longer time for recovery (8.28 min) at higher concentration (250 )g / ml) than MS-222 (5.26 min) but no differences were observed at lower concentrations between both agents. Mortality rate of 46.5 and 33.3 % was recorded for eugenol and MS-222, respectively at 250 )g / ml. Exposure of fish to 250 )g / ml of eugenol or MS-222 resulted in significant increases in serum levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid and decrease in total protein and albumin. Significant increases in AST, ALT and Ca levels were recorded only on exposure to eugenol 250 )g / ml. Histopathological examinations showed congestion of gill blood vessels, diffuse vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of the epithelium lining of the secondary lamellae of the gill filaments, degeneration and focal necrosis of renal tubules in kidneys, necrosis and deposition of hemosiderin pigment in the macrophages of spleen which is indicative for hemorrhages and hemolysis as well as mild catarrhal enteritis of intestine of fish groups exposed to 250 ) g / ml of both agents. Moreover, massive fatty and degenerative changes in liver were observed only in fish exposed to 250 )g / ml of eugenol. On the other hand, lower concentrations of both agents did not differ from those of control fish. In conclusion, it appears that eugenol at lower and medium concentrations could produce an anesthesia characterized by rapid induction and rational recovery without significant changes in tissues and blood chemistry. Care should be taken on using high concentrations of eugenol as ventilatory failure may occur

Cestodes are parasitic flatworms that live in the digestive tract of vertebrates as adults and often in the liver, muscle, haemocoel, mesentery and brain of various animals as larval stages. To identify the cestodes infecting <em>Clarias gariepinus</em> Burchell, 1822 (sharptooth catfish) in the Vaal Dam, a total of 45 host specimens were collected with the aid of gill nets between October 2011, January and April 2012. The fish were sacrificed and examined for cestode parasites. Two adult cestodes, <em>Tetracampos ciliotheca</em> Wedl, 1861 (prevalence 86.7%, mean intensity = 15,<em> n</em> = 45) and <em>Proteocephalus glanduligerus</em> (Janicki, 1928) (prevalence 51.1%, mean intensity = 5, <em>n</em> = 45) were found in the intestines of the catfish. Both <em>T. ciliotheca</em> and <em>P. glanduligerus</em> are new locality records. There were statistically insignificant differences in the infection of the male and female <em>C. gariepinu</em>. Fish with standard length ranging from 40 cm – 54 cm (≥ 3 years) had the highest prevalence and mean intensity while those ranging from 10 cm – 24 cm (&lt; 1 year) had the lowest prevalence and mean intensity for both cestodes. The study highlights the importance of changing feeding habits of <em>C. gariepinus </em>with age on the prevalence and mean intensity of the two gastrointestinal cestode parasites.

The use of haematological techniques to assess fish health is generally accepted. The aim of the current study was to determine selected haematological changes that occur in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). infected with trypanosomes. Blood films were prepared according to standard techniques to confirm trypanosome infections and whole blood was collected, the serum and plasma separated, and prepared for albumin and total protein concentration analysis. Plasma albumin levels were significantly higher in infected wild caught fish than in uninfected wild caught fish and uninfected breeding stock. Serum albumin levels were significantly lower in infected wild caught fish when compared to uninfected breeding stock. The total plasma and serum protein levels were within the normal range for C. gariepinus, that is, 3 g – 6 g/100 mL. The total plasma protein levels varied significantly between the three groups. However, the total serum protein levels were only significantly different between uninfected breeding stock and uninfected wild caught fish, as well as uninfected breeding stock and infected wild caught fish. The total protein levels were significantly higher in infected wild caught fish than in the other groups, a possible indication of an infection or inflammatory host response.

During parasitological field surveys of freshwater fish, sebekiid and subtriquetrid pentastome larvae were recovered from the body cavity or swim bladder of several fish species from various localities in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa. Sebekia wedliwas recovered from the body cavity of Marcusenius macrolepidotus (Mormyridae) from Flag Boshielo Dam, Limpopo Province, and Alofia sp. and Subtriquetra rileyi were found in the swim bladder of Oreochromis mossambicus (Cichlidae) from the Phalaborwa Barrage, Limpopo Province. The latter species was also collected from the swim bladder of O. mossambicus in dams in the Phalaborwa region and the Ga-Selati River, Limpopo Province. A single specimen of Sebekia okavangoensis was present in the body cavity of Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae) in a dam on a sugarcane farm in the Komatipoort region, Mpumalanga Province. Pentastomid infections in the Mormyridae and Clariidae represent new host records.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth response and feed utilization of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed graded levels of boiled Senna obtusifolia seed meal as replacement for soybean meal. Materials and methods: Five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated. The diest were- control diet (with 0% inclusion level boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal i.e., 100% soybean meal), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% inclusion level (total replacement of soya bean meal). The feeds were fed to C. gariepinus juveniles at 5% of their body weight for 84 days in an indoor partial flow through system. Weight and standard length of C. gariepinus juveniles were taken every fortnight and water quality parameters were monitored weekly. Results: Experimental fish fed diets with 0 and 25% inclusion level of boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal gave the best results in terms of Mean Weight Gain (MWG) (20.22 and 19.79 g, respectively), Specific Growth Rate (1.82 and 1.83 respectively), Protein Efficiency Ratio (2.75 and 2.00, respectively) and the Lowest Feed Conversion Ratio (1.29 and 1.39 respectively). The lowest growth and feed utilization were observed in fish fed 100% inclusion level. The weight gain of fish decreased with increase in replacement level above 25%. There was no significant difference between control diet 0 and 25% inclusion level (P and #8805;0.05). Conclusion: Boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal is a nutritive source of plant protein and a good replacement for soybean meal at 25% inclusion level of boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal in formulating catfish feed for C. gariepinus juveniles without any deleterious effect. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2016; 3(4.000): 345-352]

Cultivating catfish is one of the businesses that are of interest in Indonesia. The success of cultivation begins to be determined by the provision of seeds. Healthy seeds lead to a high survival rate, and unhealthy seeds due to disease will cause a high mortality rate, causing losses in the cultivation business. Bacterial infectious diseases Edwardsiella tarda can cause a low survival rate of catfish seeds, and even the death rate can reach 100%. This study aimed to evaluate and determine the best dosage of asam sunti in feed to control the pathogenic bacteria E. tarda infection in catfish. Asam sunti was given through feed with different treatment doses, with concentrate 0% (K), 0.5% (P1), 1% (P2), 2% (P3), and 4% (P4) for 14 days after being infected with pathogenic bacteria. The effect of giving asam sunti was measured by observing the survival of fish. The results showed that the administration of asam sunti could control the bacterial diseases of E. tarda bacteria sequentially control (K) is 0%, (P1) is 16.67%, (P2) 40%, (P3) 66.67%, and (P4) 90%. From these results, it can be concluded that the 4% asam sunti dose is the best dose for the survival of catfish seeds, with the survival rate for pathogenic bacteria E. tarda at 90%.