Bacteriological Assessment and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Recovered from <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> Selected from Various Fish Farms in Anambra North Senatorial Zones in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fishes are cheap sources of protein and are commonly reared in artificial pond in Nigeria. Bacterial infested fishes have been a serious public health concern. This study was aimed at isolating and identifying bacteria associated with the internal organs (gills, liver, guts) of Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish) in fish ponds in Anambra North Senatorial zones in Anambra State, Nigeria, and to determine the seasonal bacterial load of the organs and antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolates to conventional antibiotics. A total of 720 African catfish were sampled from randomly selected fish farms during rainy and dry seasons. Bacteria isolates inoculated on Blood and Nutrient agar plates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. Susceptibility of the isolates to antibiotics was carried out using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Isolates from the fish organs include species of Vibrio, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Microbacterium, Serratia, Proteus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Citrobacter and Micrococcus. Results also revealed that there was significant difference (p value < 0.05) in the bacterial load recovered from the fish organs, during rainy and dry seasons. Bacillus sp. was the most abundant gram positive bacterium in the organs of the fish samples during the rainy and dry season, while Citrobacter sp., a gram negative organism, was relatively abundant in the liver and gut. Percentage susceptibility of the bacteria to antibiotics was highest with vancomycin (100%) and least with erythromycin (75.0%). The most susceptible isolates were species of Staphylococcus, Microccoccus and Microbacterium while Bacillus sp. was the most resistant bacterium.

Molecular Characterization and Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistance Gene of Bacteria Associated with Gills of Arius heudelotii and Clarias gariepinus

“…The results from the earthen pond (Cultured fish habitat) and New Calabar River (Wild environment), the bacterial load reported in the gills (Tables 1) was high in both Clarias gariepinus and A. heudelotii. This finding agrees with the findings of Ogbukagu et al [39], who recovered more bacteria in the gills of the catfish. Our study also reechoed the same concern expressed by Nwankwo & Akani [9], that the presence of these organisms could constitute a public health risk and calls for adequate preventive measures.…”

Characterization and Isolation of Bacteria from Adult African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Selected Fish Farms of Rivers State, Nigeria

“…This observation correlates well with the diarrhoea prevalence of 8.7% of the total number of outpatients recorded in 2006. Transportation of fish from contaminated farms, the packaging of fish in dirty baskets and plastic basins, and the display of fish on dirty nylon sheets for buyers 20 meters from the fish farms could also enhance post-harvest contamination of the fish by the fish farmers [56,57,58]. In this study, it was observed that 14.29% of microbes were found on the skin of fish at Emohua LGA, 23.81% on fish skin at Eleme, 28.57% on fish skin at Ikwerre, 14 LGA while at Emuoha, Eleme and Port Harcourt city, 18, 7 and 5% each formed the bacteria load in the gut were as Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor respectively formed 31.25% and 12.50% of microbes.…”