ABSTRACT

Hygienic quality of fish pond water is very important for fish health, the farmer and the consumers. Bacterial isolates were enumerated, characterized and identified with biochemical methods and molecular methods using PCR and DNA sequencing. The Physicochemical parameters including Temperature, pH, BOD, DO ammonia and turbidity were assessed. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates were determined. The fungi isolates were identified based on colony features and microscopic examination of mounts of the isolate made in lactophenol blue. The total heterotrophic bacteria mean count ranged from 56±1.41 in the reservoir to 156.00±1.41 in pond 3. Similarly, the fungal count ranged from 1.8±0.14 in the reservoir to 3.80±0.14 in pond 5.The most probable number (MPN) was highest in pond 3 with 34 while the lowest was in pond 2 with 11 per 100 ml respectively. The bacteria isolated were Alcaligenes faecalis (16.92%), Salmonella bongori (13.84%), Staphylococcus sciuri (18.46%), Proteus mirabilis (15.38%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24.61%), Escherichia coli (10.76%), while the fungi were Aspergillus niger (36.36%), Aspergillus fumigatus (27.27%), Penicillum glabrum (24.24%) and Rhizopus oryzea (12.12%). The bacterial isolates were subjected to the Kirby-Bauer test to determine their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. The bacterial isolates showed multiple resistance to the antibiotics tested. The physicochemical parameters tested were significantly different (P<0.05) across all ponds. The mean values ranges of the physicochemical parameters were pH, 6.71 to 6.81; temperature, 26.60°C in pond 2 to 27.14°C in reservoir; dissolved oxygen, 4.47 in pond 3 to 5.03 mg/L in pond 1; biological oxygen demand,1.83 to 2.04 mg/L; turbidity, 8.06 to36.12 mg/L; ammonia, 0.32 to 2.13 mg/L; phosphate, 0.24 to 1.77 mg/L; electricity conductivity, 62.4 to 173.60 ms/cm. Mean values obtained for temperature, Dissolved Oxygen and pH were within WHO standard, while turbidity and ammonia were above the standard limits. Biological Oxygen Demand was below the values desirable for optimum fish activities according to WHO and FEPA. The microbial load of the ponds indicates poor condition of the ponds and shows lack of qualitative management services, which could become harmful to the fish and humans when consumed. There is need to improve the aesthetic view of the ponds and regular monitoring of the water quality of the ponds from time to time.