Rapid parasitological indicators as practical biosecurity tools in inland Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture: A national multiregional two-season survey in Saudi Arabia

Vet World Vol.18 December-2025 Article - 28

Research Article

Veterinary World, 18(12): 4056-4068

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.4056-4068

Mohammad Nafi Solaiman Al-Sabi¹

, Heba Ibrahim Abdel-mawla²

, Jamal Hussen³

, Ibrahim Fahad Albokhadaim⁴

, and Kurt Buchmann⁵

1. Department of Basic Veterinary Medical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan.

2. Department of Fish Diseases, Animal Health Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

3. Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

5. Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

Background and Aim: The inland aquaculture sector in Saudi Arabia has expanded rapidly, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) becoming the dominant cultured species. However, limited national surveillance has restricted early detection of parasitic infestations that could indicate breaches in farm-level biosecurity. This study aimed to evaluate low-cost parasitological screening as a practical indicator of biosecurity performance by assessing parasite prevalence, diversity, and predictors across inland farms during two seasons.

Materials and Methods: A sample of 30 fish from each farm was examined from 25 inland aquaculture sites sampled in summer and winter (2022–2023). External and internal parasitic infestations were evaluated through wet smears of the skin, fins, and gills, and by compression techniques for digeneans. Water quality parameters, serum cortisol levels, and farm management data were recorded. Parasites were identified to the genus-level. Predictors of infestation were analyzed using binary logistic regression followed by generalized linear mixed models.

Results: Six parasite groups were detected, with infestations recorded on all farms. Trichodina spp. showed the highest farm-level prevalence (96%) and fish-level prevalence (54.3%), followed by Cichlidogyrus spp. (92% of farms; 56.9% of fish). Dactylogyrus, Ambiphyra, Gyrodactylus, and Centrocestus were variably present, with the eastern region displaying the lowest diversity. Most infestations were mild. Significant predictors varied by parasite type: summer season increased the likelihood of Centrocestus, Dactylogyrus, Cichlidogyrus, and Ambiphyra; low pH strongly predicted monogenean and sessile ciliate infestations; dissolved oxygen and fish length also contributed to parasite-specific patterns. No clear association existed between infestation and elevated cortisol levels.

Conclusion: This nationwide two-season assessment shows that simple parasitological screening, especially for Trichodina and Cichlidogyrus, offers quick, affordable signs of biosecurity breaches in inland O. niloticus aquaculture. The presence of parasites indicates past or current risks of pathogen introduction, highlighting the importance of better quarantine procedures, water quality management, and following national biosecurity guidelines. Regular quarterly parasitological checks, combined with water quality testing and improved farm hygiene, can enhance early detection and reduce the spread of disease across Saudi Arabia's aquaculture industry.

Keywords: aquaculture biosecurity, inland aquaculture, Nile tilapia, parasitological screening, parasite prevalence, Saudi Arabia, seasonal variation, water quality indicators.

How to cite this article: Al-Sabi MNS, Abdel-mawla HI, Hussen J, Albokhadaim IF, and Buchmann K (2025) Rapid parasitological indicators as practical biosecurity tools in inland Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture: A national multiregional two-season survey in Saudi Arabia, Veterinary World, 18(12): 4056–4068.

Received: 25-09-2025 Accepted: 02-12-2025 Published online: 23-12-2025

Corresponding author: Mohammad Nafi Solaiman Al-Sabi E-mail: mnalsabi@just.edu.jo

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.4056-4068

Copyright: Al-Sabi, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.