Parasitic diseases are regarded as one of the challenges facing the fish productivity in both natural and farmed environments. The growing field of aquatic science has been recognized to alleviate the global poverty and reduce food insecurity due to world growing population. It is in view of this, the study, investigated the haemoparasites and haematological indices of farmed Clarias gariepinus in Ibadan Southwest Nigeria. A total of 405 Clarias gariepinus was used to determine the haemoparasites and haematological indices in the study area. A prevalence of 60(14.81%) was recorded. The highest infection was 32(7.90%) among the male fish, and 28(6.91%) in the female. The haemoparasites recorded were Leucocytozoan sp 8(1.98%), Haemoproteus sp 16(3.95%), Plasmodium sp 15(3.70%) and Babesia sp 11(2.72%) in the fish sample. The prevalence of mixed the infections were between Haemoproteus sp and Plasmodium sp in 9 fishes (2.22%), the Plasmodium sp and Babesia sp in 1(0.25%) fish sample. The overall mixed infection was 6(1.48%) among male fish while it was 4(0.99%) among female. The prevalence of Haemoproteus sp was 9(2.22%) and 7(1.73%) in male and female fish respectively. However, Leucocytozoan 8(1.98%) was found all through in male fish, Plasmodium sp infection only was found in 9(2.22%) female fish and 6(1.48%) in male fish. Male and female fish were infected with Babesia infection with prevalence of 4(0.99%) and 7(1.73%) respectively. The distribution of mixed haemoparasitic infections in the case of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium sp reference to sex showed 4(0.99%) and 5(1.23%) in male and female fish respectively, while 1(0.25%) male was infected in the case of Babesia and Plasmodium infections. There is no significant difference (p>0.05) in Packed cell volume( PCV), Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell WBC, heterophils, monocytes, basophils between infected and uninfected fish, also no significant difference existed in the morphometrics of infected and uninfected fish.
Key words- Clarias gariepinus, Haemoparasites, Prevalence, Haematological indices,