MICROBIOLOGICAL STATUS AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF FISH AND WATER SAMPLES FROM SOME FISH FARMS

A grand total of 12 water samples was collected from four different fish ponds (Ebenebe, Amansea, Amaenyi and Okpuno) all located in South East of Nigeria,three samples each from concrete ponds between March and June 2021. The recorded mean physicochemical values for pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solid (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity and water hardness were within WHO guidelines for water quality. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the total bacterial load in fish samples from the stations. The mean heterotrophic bacterial counts and total coliform counts in fish samples ranged from 108.33±11.06x104cfu/g to 105.00±36.86x 104cfu/g, 97.66 x 104cfu/g and 79.00±16.52x 104cfu/g, respectively. The bacterial isolates identified were; Eschericia spp, pseudomonas spp, Vibrio spp and Salmonella spp, Staph. Spp, Acinetobactercal coaceticu, Yersinia spp and plesiomonas spp. The study revealed that the pond waters involved was contaminated by bacteria, which might affect the growth of fish in the pond and may become harmful to human and also in food-chain over time It is therefore recommended that fishes be properly cooked and the microbiological analysis and physicochemical examination of wastewater or fish for signs of possible infections should be conducted on a regular basis.