Isolation and identification of Aeromonas spp. isolated from African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), which locally knows as 'keli'. is a sharptooth catfish in aquaculture, and is highly recommended food fish in Africa. A total of twelve isolates was successfully isolated from African catfish fry (Clarias gariepinus) at Tok Jembal, Terengganu. The 12 isolates were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila by using morphological, biochemical and physiological tests. Isolates grown on GSP agar were selected. Of the 41 biochemical characteristics evaluated for all 12 strains of Aeromonas, only 7 tests (17.07%) yielded differential result. These were motility, gelatinase, indole production, arginine dihydrolase, arabinose, sorbitol and trehalose. The bacterial identification also was done using reference from Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology 9 th edition. Dendrogram was constructed from combination result of morphological, biochemical and physiological tests usmg Numerical Taxonomy Systems.