Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasites of African Bony Tongue Fish (Heterotis Niloticus) in Sabiyel Lake, Kebbi State

The parasites can cause disease in fish and affect human. This study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in African bony tongue fish (Heterotis niloticus) from Sabiyel Lake, Kebbi State, Nigeria. A total of 270 specimens were examined between (February and July 2025) and transported to the laboratory for morphological and parasitological studies to determine infection rates in relation to host sex. Overall prevalence was 24.07%, comprising nematodes (Capillaria spp., 16.67%) and trematodes (Clinostomum spp., 7.41%). Males (24.53%) exhibited slightly higher infection rates than females (23.42%), though differences were not statistically significant (χ² = 0.044; P = 0.834). The findings show an average but notable helminth burden in Heterotis niloticus influenced by host sex with implications for fisheries management, food safety and public health. Therefore, it is recommended that Heterotis niloticus from Sabiyel Lake should be cooked properly to protect consumers from ingesting fish infected with parasites. Regular parasitological investigation should be carried out on H. niloticus populations in the Lake to track trends in helminth infections