ISOLATION OF DIARRHOEAGENIC BACTERIA FROM BIVALVES

ABSTRACT

Bivalves belongs to the Phylum Mollusca, these animals are laterally compressed with soft body partially or completely covered by the shell. This research was done to isolate diarrhoeagenic organisms from bivalves. The bivalves used were obtained from Ekewe Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, Nigeria. The media used for bacteriological analysis were Eosin methylene Blue, nutrient agar, ThiosulfateCitrate-Bile Salt Agar, MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar, Bacillus cereus agar, Pseudomonas Cetrimide agar, Salmonella Shigella agar and MRSA. Test organisms were subjected to antibiotics sensitivity test using the agar well diffusion on prepared media. The percentage proximate constituents determined were moisture, fat, protein, ash and carbohydrate. The highest mean bacterial colonies were recorded on nutrient agar with 2.48 x 105 cfu/g, while the least value was recorded in both Pseudomonas Cetrimide Agar (PCA) and Thiosulphate-Citrate-Bile-Salt Agar (TCBS) 0.00 x 103 cfu/g. No Vibrio, Pseudomonas were recovered in the bivalves. The bacteria isolates were identified as Yesinia pestis and Yesinia enterocolitica. The highest resistance profile was recorded against Yesinia pestis with resistance index of 0.3. The lowest resistance index was recorded against Yesinia enterocolitica (0.2). The presence of Yersinia pestis and Yersinia enterocolitica are indications of contamination possibly as a result of pollution of water bodies.