Morphological Re-description of Camallanus polypteri (Nematoda: Camallanidae) Infecting the African Sharptooth Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae)

Fish represents one of the major sources of animal proteins, and different species of fish are susceptible to infections with parasites which cause severe tissue damage and cell destruction of the infected organ. Therefore, in 2019, this parasitological study was conducted to assess the helminth parasites infecting the African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus that were collected from Lake Manzala, Egypt. Only nematode parasite was reported as a prevalent infection from the fish stomach with an infection rate of 7.5%. Depending on the seasonal prevalence, the extent of the infection was analyzed. It was indicated that parasite infection was only reported as 15% in the winter season. Morphological and morphometric analyses of the present parasite species revealed that it possesses all the characteristics of the Camallanus genus, whereas it is closely related to Camallanus polypteri described previously. It is characterized by the presence of a buccal capsule with longitudinal internal ridges, some of which are very short and ranged from 8-14 in males and 8-9 in females. The esophagus consisted of muscular and glandular portions, the middle position of the excretory pore to the muscular esophagus, the anterior location of deirids to the nerve ring, posterior end of males with two unequal spicules and caudal papillae; nonetheless, it is smooth and straight in females. In addition, some morphology and measurement differences for the different body parts were identified with other Camallanus species. Therefore, the present study can provide a full morphologically re-description of Camallanus polypteri with a new geographical location in the Egyptian freshwater.