Identification and characterization of bacteria from freshwater fish, Rasbora notura

Abstract

Some of the pathogenic bacteria in freshwater fish can cause disease in human hence the identification of bacteria from fish will help to prevent contamination in human. Bacteria from fish also could be a potential indicator for environmental pollution and play important roles in the maintenance of water quality. The aims of this study are to isolate the bacteria from freshwater fish, Rasbora notura and to identify and characterize the bacteria isolates. Gram-staining and seven biochemical tests were carried out in these study including oxidase, catalase, MR, VP, starch hydrolysis, TSI and SIM. 91 bacteria isolates were. successfully isolated from R. notura but only 14 different species of bacteria isolates have been identified up to genus and species level which were Megasphaera sp., Veillonella sp., Aeromonas sp., Bacillus sp., Neisseria sp., Staphylococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Corynebacterium kutsceri, Corynebacterium xerosis, Enterbacter aerogenes, Enterbacter intermedius, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia liquefaciens. Gram-negative bacteria were dominant in R. notura and in agreement with previous study which almost 90 percent of Gram-negative bacteria were dominant in freshwater animals. The dominance of Megasphaera sp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae in this study indicates that fecal contamination was occurring in Paya Sungai Udang.