Comparative Parasitological Analysis of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Reared in an Integrated Fish-lettuce Versus Conventional Monoculture Pond Systems in Ivory Coast

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the health status of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in an integrated fish–lettuce pond system compared with that of fish reared in a conventional monoculture pond system in Côte d’Ivoire. Methodology: Water-quality parameters measured for each production system included pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and electrical conductivity. Parasitological status was assessed in 768 tilapia specimens (384 per production system) using the number of infected fish, prevalence, mean intensity, and parasite abundance. Results: The recorded physicochemical parameters were within acceptable ranges for tilapia farming. The parasites identified in Nile tilapia belonged to three genera: Trichodina, Chilodonella, and Gyrodactylus. Trichodina spp. exhibited the highest prevalence (11.45 ± 0.65%), mean intensity (6.06 ± 0.50), and abundance (0.69 ± 0.10). This protozoan was the dominant parasite and represented the principal health constraint observed. Regarding mixed infections, the association of Trichodina spp. and Chilodonella spp. was the most frequent, with nine fish co-infected by both protozoans. The conventional system showed a higher overall parasite prevalence and a greater number of infected fish, whereas the integrated system exhibited slightly higher mean intensity and parasite abundance. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the integrated system may help limit parasite transmission without eliminating the risk of infestation.