Monogeneans of catfish species Schilbe uranoscopus from Kenya
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2014 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Catfishes (order Siluriformes) represent a diverse group of ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii), including 37 families and living mostly in tropical South America, North America, Africa and Asia. In African countries, 66 species (11 genera) of monogeneans have been recorded to parasitize catfishes (species belonging to 10 genera examined). From Kenya, no records about monogeneans in catfishes existed until research were carried out by our team. Fish were sampled in Turkana Lake in 2008 and 2009 and 12 siluriform species were examined for parasites. Seven siluriform species (belonging to genera Auchenoglanis, Chrysichthys, Bagrus, Clarias, Heterobranchus and Schilbe) were found to be infected with monogeneans (10 species belonging to genera Bagrobdella, Protoancylodiscoides, Quadriacanthus, Schilbetrema and Schilbetrematoides). Majority of monogenean species recorded probably represent species new for science. This is particularly true for monogenean species found in butter catfish Schilbe uranoscopus (first records of monogenean infection in this fish species). S. uranoscopus, in comparison with the other host species collected, was found to be infected with the highest number (4) of monogenean species: three Schilbetrema species and one Schilbetrematoides species, on which we are currently focused. |
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