Bacterial flora associated with the giant fresh water prawn (macrobrachium rosenbergii) post-larvae in the hatchery system

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand the bacterial flora associated with giant fresh water prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (post-larvae) in University Malaysia Terengganu hatchery and it's resistant towards antibiotics and heavy metals tolerance. Total of 35 isolates were collected and determined their tolerance to antibiotics and heavy metal. The isolates comprised of 8 genera, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., Shigella spp., Providencia spp., Enterobacter spp., and Klebsiella spp. which identified by morphological typing. Total plate counts ranged from 2.5x10 to 2.76 x 104 cfu m1-1 • The antibiotics test with 15 different antibiotics showed that all isolates were sensitive to Florfenicol (FFC). Multiple antibiotic resistance MAR index, 0.54 indicates that the isolates were originated from high-risk source of contamination. Heavy metals tolerance test such as Cu, Cr, Cd and Hg with 5 different concentrations showed tolerance pattern Hg = Cr > Cu > Cd. The study is very useful in contributing a preliminary data and profile of the bacteria associated with giant fresh water prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (post-larvae).