The microbial profile of two concrete fish ponds stocked with catfish in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

ABSTRACT

An investigation of the microbial profile of two concrete fish ponds stocked with catfish in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture was carried out. The Total bacterial count ranged from 7.3 x 105 cfu/ml to 9.3 x 105 cfu/ml while the fungal count ranged from 2.8 x 105 cfu/ml to 3.2 x 105 cfu/ml in both fish ponds. The bacterial genera isolated from the fish ponds were Esherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas sp, Streptococcuss sp, Bacillus sp, Proteus sp, Klebsiella sp, Shigella sp and Salmonella sp with Bacillus sp and Salmonella sp having the highest occurrences of 16.8% and 15.4% respectively. The fungal genera isolated from both fish ponds are Aspergillus spp, Candida spp, Fusarium spp, Rhizopus spp and Mucour spp. The study revealed that the ponds were contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms which poses a risk to human health, thus of significant public health concern. The results of physicochemical properties of the water samples showed that temperature was slightly higher in the University main fish pond sited in an open place. All physicochemical parameters analyzed were at optimum range for fish production. The study therefore suggests the need for periodic water quality control of fish ponds in order to ensure fish safety as well as to prevent the transmission of potential pathogens. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ﾿

Certification ﾿ i

Dedication ﾿ ii

Acknowledgement ﾿ iii

Table of Contents ﾿ iv

List of Tables ﾿ vi

List of Figures                                                                                                                         vii

Abstract ﾿ viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0. ﾿ Introduction ﾿ 1

1.1. ﾿ Aims and Objectives ﾿ 2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0. ﾿ Literature Review ﾿ 3

2.1 ﾿ Fish Microflora ﾿ 4

2.2 ﾿ Fish Pathogens ﾿ 5

2.3. ﾿ Physicochemical Profile ﾿ 6

2.4 ﾿ Physicochemical Parameters ﾿ 7

2.4.1 ﾿ Effect of Temperature On Fish Ponds ﾿ 7

2.4.2 ﾿ Effects of Turbidity On Fish Ponds ﾿ 8

2.4.3 ﾿ Effects of Ph on Fish Ponds ﾿ 8

CHAPTER THREE

3.0. ﾿ Materials and Methods ﾿ 9

3.1 ﾿ Study Area ﾿ 9

3.2 ﾿ Sample Collection ﾿ 9

3.3 ﾿ Sterilization of Materials ﾿ 9

3.4. ﾿ Media Preparation ﾿ 10

3.5 ﾿ Sample Preparation ﾿ 10

3.5.1 ﾿ Preparation of Serial Dilution ﾿ 10

3.6 ﾿ Microbiological Analyses ﾿ 10

3.6.1 ﾿ Isolation and Enumeration of Bacteria ﾿ 10

3.7. ﾿ Characterization and Identification of Bacterial Isolates ﾿ 11

3.7.1. ﾿ Gram Stain ﾿ 11

3.8 ﾿ Biochemical Tests ﾿ 12

3.8.1. ﾿ Catalase Test ﾿ 12

3.8.2. ﾿ Coagulase Test ﾿ 12

3.8.3. ﾿ Citrate Test ﾿ 12

3.8.4. ﾿ Motility, Indole, Urease Test (MIU). ﾿ 13

 3.8.5. ﾿ Triple Sugar Iron Test ﾿ 13

3.8.6. ﾿ Oxidase Test ﾿ 14

3.9. ﾿ Fungal Innoculation and Identification ﾿ 14

3.9.1 ﾿ Lacto-Phenol Cotton Blue Slide Mounts ﾿ 14

3.10 ﾿ Physicochemical Profile ﾿ 15

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 ﾿ Results ﾿ 16

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 ﾿ Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation ﾿ 28

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 28

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 31

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 32

LIST OF TABLES

Table ﾿ Title ﾿ Page

1. ﾿ Biochemical and Microscopic Characteristics of Bacteria Isolated ﾿ 17

2. ﾿ Macroscopic and Microscopic Appearance of Fungal Isolates ﾿ 18

3. ﾿ Occurrence of the Bacterial Isolates in the fish ponds ﾿ 19

4. ﾿ Occurrence of Fungal Isolates in the fish ponds ﾿ 20

5. ﾿ Total Bacterial counts ﾿ (cfu/ml) of Fish pond A ﾿ 21

6. ﾿ Total bacterial counts (cfu/ml) of Fish pond B ﾿ 22

7. ﾿ Total Fungal Count (cfu/ml) of Fish pond A ﾿ 23

8. ﾿ Total Fungal counts (cfu/ml) of Fish pond B ﾿ 24 

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure ﾿ Title ﾿ Page

I. ﾿ Percentage occurrences of bacterial Count of Fish Pond A ﾿ 25

2. ﾿ Percentage occurrences of bacterial Count of Fish Pond B ﾿ 26

3. ﾿ Percentage occurrences of Fungal Count of Fish Pond A ﾿ 27

4. ﾿ Percentage occurrences of Fungal Count of Fish Pond B ﾿ 28

5. ﾿ A chart representing the physicochemical profile of both Fish Ponds ﾿ 30