Abstract

The physicochemical characteristics and bacteriological status of pond water and incidence of bacterial pathogens in diseased fishes from five fish ponds were studied to determine the contributions of pond water quality to fish health and hence food safety. The total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) of pond water ranged from 3.7x107 to 9.9x108 cfu/ml. Pond water at Site 5 had the highest THB count of 9.9x108 cfu/ml. All pond water samples had > 2,400 (most probably number (MPN)/100 ml) for total coliform count. Pond water Site 5 showed the highest at 1,100 (count/100 ml) MPN for fecal coliform counts. The THB in diseased fish ranged from 3.7x107–9.9x108 cfu/ml, while fecal coliform ranged from 154–1,104 MPN/100 g. Pond water from Site 5 had the highest bacterial load. The total coliform was > 2,400/100 ml. The bacterial diversity in pond water and diseased fish included Aeromonas, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, and Escherichia species. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern varied. Thirty-one percent of the isolates were sensitive to the tested antibiotics. Forty-nine percent were intermediate while 20 percent were resistant. Control of bacterial diseases of fish pond is necessary to ensure sustainable fish health and productivity and to ultimately prevent food-borne epidemic in the populace.