Issue Description


Authors : Bodhe Y.G.1, Wadhai V.S.2

Page Nos : 167-176

Description :
The study was designed to investigate the microbial estimation in the fishes Channa marulius and Clarias batrachus collected from Wainganga river of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli District. Aquaculture products can harbour pathogenic bacteria which are part of the natural microflora of the environment. A study was conducted aiming at the isolation of human pathogenic bacteria in gills, intestines, mouth and the skin of apparently healthy fish, C. morulias and C. batrachus. Bacterial pathogens associated with fish can be transmitted to human beings from fish used as food or by handling the fish causing human diseases. Differentiation and characterization of various isolates was based on their growth characteristics on specific culture media (biochemical and gram staining reactions). The following human pathogenic bacteria were isolated Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholera and Shigella dysenteriae. All the bacterial species which were isolated from the fish were also present in the initial water samples collected. The isolation of enteric bacteria in fish serves as indicator organisms of faecal contamination and or water pollution. Their presence also represents a potential hazard to humans. The mean bacterial load of the isolates was found to be markedly higher than the recommended public health and standard value of 5.0 x 106 CFU/ml which has been adopted by many countries.

Date of Online: 30 Jan 2014