DIGESTIVE ENZYMES ASSAY IN THE GUT OF SNAKEHEAD FISH PARACHANNA OBSCURA (GUNTHER 1861) FROM RIVER OGBESE

• T.T. Oladele

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

  Author

• O.A. Fagbenro

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

  Author

• O.O. Olawusi-Peters

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

  Author

The digestive enzyme assay in the alimentary canal of Parachanna obscura fish from river Ogbese, South Western Nigeria was examined to ascertain the activity levels and distribution pattern of digestive enzymes present in the fish species. Qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to determine the presence and activity of enzymes (carbohydrases, proteases and lipase) at different regions of the alimentary canal and associated organs of Parachanna obscura. The data obtained were subjected to mean ± SD and were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine the level of significant at p < 0.05, however, this shows the varying level of enzyme activity present in the digestive organs such as; (oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum and rectum). Array of glycosidases activity present in the gut of Snakehead fish had no record of activity in oesophagus and rectum. More also, activity of enzyme such as cellulase was completely absent at different region of the fish gut. The distribution and activity of lactase in the ileum of the fish was found to have the highest activity of all the galactosidases activity, while the least activity was recorded in the ileum of amylase. Maltase activity was reported in this study having highest activity in the stomach and diminishes down the posterior end of the fish gut. Trehalase and salicinase were part of the digestive enzyme assayed from the gut of the fish and the result from this study shows that activity of trehalase in the stomach of the fish has highest activity and the least in the duodenum which is relatively low in comparism to other regions of the fish gut. Furthermore, salicinase distribution in the fish gut takes a similar pattern with trehalase, having highest activity in the stomach and the least in the duodenum also. Protease showed the least activity in the stomach which is the least of all activity in the entire digestive assay profile in the gut of the specimen fish. Lipase activity efficiently appeared with its distribution more profound in the duodenum and the least in the stomach of the P. obscura. This also showed the overall highest activity in the whole fish gut. The relative distribution and activity of these enzymes have shown the digestive physiology and feeding habit of the fish species which could be of help in diet formulation when brought in into aquaculture system for effective management.

1. T.T. Oladele, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

2. O.A. Fagbenro, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

3. O.O. Olawusi-Peters, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Corresponding E-mail: Oladele_timothy Phone: +2347032259909

• PDF