Preliminary studies on copepod infestation of the garfish (Ablennes hians) landed at Elmina harbour, Ghana

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the degree and effect of copepod infestation of the buccal cavity of the gar fish landed at the Elmina harbour in Central Region of Ghana, on some body parameters and sex ratio of the fish. The results indicate that the degree of infestation was significantly high (64.19%) compared to non-infestation (35.81%). The highest infestation (21.30%) occurred in animals with standard length class interval of 75.0-79.9 cm and the least (3.40%) was in 80.0–84.9 cm. The highest infestation was recorded in the breadth class interval of 60.0-6.9 cm. The least (5.70%) was in 5.0-5.9 cm. The mean standard length of the infested animal was 74.45 ± 6.50 cm, while that of the non-infested was slightly higher (77.45 ± 6.36 cm). Mean body depth of the infested was slightly lower (6.94 ± 0.86 cm) than that of the non-infested (7.08 ± 0.94 cm). Mean condition indices of infested and non-infested garfishes were similar (about 1.42 x 10-1) for each group. Sex ratios of infested (1:1.02) and non-infested (1:1.36) did not differ significantly. Similarly, the standard length-gill length and gill volume of infested and non-infested garfishes were close to each other, but slightly more positive for the non-infested animals. Finally, the results of biochemical composition indicate that the various components did not differ significantly between infested and non-infested. Protein content was high (20.30%), but fat content was rather low (8.50%) for both infested and non-infested garfishes. It is concluded that infestation had no significantly negative effect on the garfish