Prevalence, intensity, and exposed variables of infection with Acanthocephala parasites of the gastrointestinal tract of Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848) [Perciformes: Cichlidae] in Zobe Dam, Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria

Background Estimate shows that about one billion people rely on fish as primary source of animal protein. Currently, the global record portraying Nigeria as the largest producer of fishes (over 15,489 t per annum) in Africa is being threatened by the presence of various species of parasites that consider fishes as suitable definitive hosts. Control strategies will, however, be ineffective if there are scanty epidemiological data. Based on this premise, we undertook this present study to identify species of parasites, their prevalence, mean intensities, and indicators of infection of Coptodon zillii in Zobe Dam in the study area.