OCCURRENCE OF MULTIPLE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA

ABSTRACT

The occurrence and distribution of multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria in two aquaculture farms in Benin City have been investigated in this study. Water samples (n=6) were collected at three different depths (that is; surface water level, mid water level and bottom water level) from two aquaculture farms in Benin city namely; Farmstatic Agro farms and Seeza farms. Standard physicochemical and bacteriological analysis were done to assess fish pond quality, enumerate the total bacterial count and assess antibiotic susceptibilty pattern of pathogenic bacteria. Isolated bacteria were characterized and identified using morphological and biochemical methods. Results obtained showed that hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solid, turbidity and temperature ranges from 8.97-9.82, 8.00-8.7, 2.94-4.80, 0.20-0.75, 27.67-29.93 respectively. The results also showed that the enumeration of microbial population (bacteria) in Farmstatic agro fish ponds ranged from 3.48±0.25 to 3.63±0.75 while that of Seeza farms ranged from 3.30±1.33 to 3.51±1.00. The highest microbial load in the two ponds was obtained from Farmstatic agro fish pond with the value of 3.63±0.75 in log₁₀ cfu/ml while the lowest was obtained from Seeza farms fish pond with value of 3.30±1.33 in log₁₀ cfu/ml. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the bacterial count between farmstatic and seeza samples. Bacteria isolated from the two fish pond includes Escherichia coli, Shigella sp, Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella sp were present. Phenotypic virulence determinants showed that isolates were pathogenic or non pathogenic. The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that all the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin which can be used for treating infections in both humans and animals at appropriate concentrations but poses a total resistant against colistin, erythromycin, metronidazole and clindamycin. From this study, most of the physicochemical parameters didn’t rhyme with the WHO approved standard for safe water for aquatic lives, and the bacteria obtained showed contamination of fish pond water. Antibiotic resistance and increased rates of resistance can be attributed by several factors including how waste water treatment plant is being carried out.