Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Isolates from Some Fishponds in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: To determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial isolates from concrete and earthen fish ponds. Study Design: Comparative analysis. Place and Duration of Study: The African Regional Aquaculture Center Allu (ARAC), Port Harcourt River State, from August 2013-Jauary 2014. Methodology: Water samples from both concrete and earthen fish ponds were collected and analyzed at the environmental microbiology laboratory of the University of Port Harcourt. The bacterial isolates present in water samples were isolated using the spread plate technique, and identified using biochemical characteristics while the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates was obtained using the disc-diffusion method. Results: A total of 94 bacterial isolates (47 from concrete and 47 from earthen ponds) comprising of the following genera Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Aeromonas sp., Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Vibrio sp., Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp., Serattia sp., Streptococcus sp. and Klebsiella sp., were identified. Data showed that all the isolates from both concrete and earthen ponds exhibited multiple drug resistance (MDR). All the isolates were 100% resistant to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, cefixime and cloxacillin in both ponds. The highest susceptibility of 100% was recorded with erythromycin in concrete ponds and 0% in earthen pond, ofloxacin 85% in concrete pond and 75% in earthen followed by gentamicine with 91% in concrete pond and 50% in earthen ponds. Among the isolates, Enterobacter species were resistance to all antibiotics tested (100%), followed by Proteus sp., Vibrio sp. and E. coli with 87.5% respectively while the least resistance was found in Pseudomonas sp. (50%). Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the pond water is a serious health concern since the microbial flora of a fish is the reflection of its aqueous environment. This implies that antibiotic resistant bacteria present in the pond water will also be present in the cultivated fish and fish product. The multiple antibiotic resistances among the pond water pathogens may further complicate the clinical management of diseases caused by the consumption of fish cultivated in these ponds.