Bacterial and Enterobacterial load of pond water and aquacultured tilapia, Oreochromis nilotics (L.), sourced from two major farms in Fiji

Natasha, Janice and Lako, Jimaima V. and South, Graham R. (2014) Bacterial and Enterobacterial load of pond water and aquacultured tilapia, Oreochromis nilotics (L.), sourced from two major farms in Fiji. Fiji Agriculture Journal, 54 (1). pp. 40-47. ISSN 0015-0886

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Abstract

Total bacterial load and total Enterobacteriaceae in pond water, gills, skin and gastro-intestinal tract of aquacultured tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), raised at Navua Prawn Farm (NPF) and Naduruloulou Research Station (NRS) was estimated. The aerobic mesophilic counts of bacteria in pond water were estimated to be 6.7 x 103 cfu/mL and 2.98 x 105 cfu/mL at NPF and NRS respectively. The Total Enterobacteriaceae Counts in pond water were estimated as 6.40 x 102 cfu/mL and 1.33 x 104 cfu/ mL at NPF and NRS respectively. The aerobic mesophilic counts and Total Enterobacteriaceae counts were much higher in gills, gastro-intestinal tract and on skin of tilapia cultured at NRS than at NPF. The purged fish sample from NRS showed much lower Total Enterobacteriaceae and aerobic mesophilic counts. The tilapia pond at NRS may have been contaminated by the daily influx of duck excreta from a cage housed just above the pond for fertilization purpose. The infrequent water change of tilapia pond further led to increased bacterial levels. The daily water change of ponds at NPF contributed to hygienic culture conditions. Proper purging of tilapia is recommended to extend storage life of tilapia and tilapia products and to prevent spread of food-borne diseases.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Depositing User:	Jimaima Lako
Date Deposited:	23 Jan 2015 02:48
Last Modified:	14 Sep 2016 00:00
URI:	http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/7878

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