The Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) of Bacteria in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Maragondon, Cavite River

Abstract

Tilapia, especially the ones which are caught in the wild, are unsafe from a wide variety of bacterial pathogens that can cause the residents who eat these to be at high risk of infection or disease. This issue led this research study to classify human bacterial pathogens in the wild-collected fish. Tilapia fish were collected from the river of Maragondon, Cavite. The fish guts were removed and underwent serial dilution. The diluents were poured in Nutrient Agar. Colony counting was done after the plates were incubated. After several subculturing of the bacteria in differential and selective media, the isolated strains of bacteria were identified through morphology and different biochemical tests. These then underwent antibiotic susceptibility testing. Strains of Escherichia coli.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus sp., and Enterobacter aerogenes were found in the fish gut samples. In addition, E. coli. and P. aeruginosa were identified resistant to Cefuroxime, and Bacillus sp. was resistant to Azithromycin and Ampicillin. The microorganisms found in the fish samples may pose a threat to the health of the residents who consume them as they can cause diseases in humans. Local health/agricultural units in Maragondon must be informed of the findings of this research as it may be of concern to them.