DETECTION OF Vibrio species ASSOCIATED WITH CULTURED CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus) FROM SELECTED FISH FARMS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA.

 ABSTRACT

Vibrio species are ubiquitous in marine and estuarine ecosystems as well as aquaculture farms and comprise one of the major microbiota of these ecosystems. Many Vibrios are serious pathogens for animals reared in aquaculture. This study was aimed to detect the occurrence as well as ascertain the distribution of Vibrio species in Cultured Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) sampled from fish farms in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 16 fish samples with bodyweight 900g – 1000g were sampled from different farms. The samples were plated on thiosulphate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar using standard microbiological techniques. Presumptive Vibrio species isolated were further screened using biochemical test which includes; catalase test, oxidase test, indole test and potassium hydroxide test. The total occurrence of Vibrio species was found to be (89.1%) with highest percentage recorded in the flesh (100%), followed by the spleen (93.8%), liver (81.3%) and kidney (81.3%) samples respectively. The bacterial count of Vibrio species based on the various farms examined ranged from 4.8 ± 0.20 × 10³ to 7.3 ± 0.15 × 10³. The occurrence of Vibrio species in this study imply contamination of the fish farms and this can pose a potential health hazard to consumers as fish can harbor pathogens of the organisms. Thus fish should be properly cooked before consumption. Also good sanitary practice should adhere to by fish farmers.