ABSTRACT

An investigation of the microbial profile of two concrete fish ponds stocked with catfish in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture was carried out. The Total bacterial count ranged from 7.3 x 105 cfu/ml to 9.3 x 105 cfu/ml while the fungal count ranged from 2.8 x 105 cfu/ml to 3.2 x 105 cfu/ml in both fish ponds. The bacterial genera isolated from the fish ponds were Esherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas sp, Streptococcuss sp, Bacillus sp, Proteus sp, Klebsiella sp, Shigella sp and Salmonella sp with Bacillus sp and Salmonella sp having the highest occurrences of 16.8% and 15.4% respectively. The fungal genera isolated from both fish ponds are Aspergillus spp, Candida spp, Fusarium spp, Rhizopus spp and Mucour spp. The study revealed that the ponds were contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms which poses a risk to human health, thus of significant public health concern. The results of physicochemical properties of the water samples showed that temperature was slightly higher in the University main fish pond sited in an open place. All physicochemical parameters analyzed were at optimum range for fish production. The study therefore suggests the need for periodic water quality control of fish ponds in order to ensure fish safety as well as to prevent the transmission of potential pathogens. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification i

Dedication ii

Acknowledgement iii

Table of Contents iv

List of Tables vi

List of Figures                                                                                                                         vii

Abstract viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0. Introduction 1

1.1. Aims and Objectives 2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0. Literature Review 3

2.1 Fish Microflora 4

2.2 Fish Pathogens 5

2.3. Physicochemical Profile 6

2.4 Physicochemical Parameters 7

2.4.1 Effect of Temperature On Fish Ponds 7

2.4.2 Effects of Turbidity On Fish Ponds 8

2.4.3 Effects of Ph on Fish Ponds 8

CHAPTER THREE

3.0. Materials and Methods 9

3.1 Study Area 9

3.2 Sample Collection 9

3.3 Sterilization of Materials 9

3.4. Media Preparation 10

3.5 Sample Preparation 10

3.5.1 Preparation of Serial Dilution 10

3.6 Microbiological Analyses 10

3.6.1 Isolation and Enumeration of Bacteria 10

3.7. Characterization and Identification of Bacterial Isolates 11

3.7.1. Gram Stain 11

3.8 Biochemical Tests 12

3.8.1. Catalase Test 12

3.8.2. Coagulase Test 12

3.8.3. Citrate Test 12

3.8.4. Motility, Indole, Urease Test (MIU). 13

 3.8.5. Triple Sugar Iron Test 13

3.8.6. Oxidase Test 14

3.9. Fungal Innoculation and Identification 14

3.9.1 Lacto-Phenol Cotton Blue Slide Mounts 14

3.10 Physicochemical Profile 15

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results 16

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation 28

5.1 Discussion 28

5.2 Conclusion 31

5.3 Recommendation 32

LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page

1. Biochemical and Microscopic Characteristics of Bacteria Isolated 17

2. Macroscopic and Microscopic Appearance of Fungal Isolates 18

3. Occurrence of the Bacterial Isolates in the fish ponds 19

4. Occurrence of Fungal Isolates in the fish ponds 20

5. Total Bacterial counts (cfu/ml) of Fish pond A 21

6. Total bacterial counts (cfu/ml) of Fish pond B 22

7. Total Fungal Count (cfu/ml) of Fish pond A 23

8. Total Fungal counts (cfu/ml) of Fish pond B 24 

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Title Page

I. Percentage occurrences of bacterial Count of Fish Pond A 25

2. Percentage occurrences of bacterial Count of Fish Pond B 26

3. Percentage occurrences of Fungal Count of Fish Pond A 27

4. Percentage occurrences of Fungal Count of Fish Pond B 28

5. A chart representing the physicochemical profile of both Fish Ponds 30