Bacteriological Analysis of Mullet (Mugil cephalus) in Makoko, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract

Atotal of 60 fresh Mugil cephalussamples were bought from Makoko market in Lagos and were analysed bacteriologically. Cultures of the gills and intestinal tissues of the 60 fish were made on selective media using standard microbiological methods. The weights and sizes of the fish were measured using Mettler's balance and a ruler. Antibiotics susceptibility patterns of the isolates were carried out using disc diffusion technique. Majority, 30 (50%) of the fish studied weighed between 51 and 100g, 18(45%), weighed between 201 and 250g, while 6(15%) weighed between 101 and 200g. The sizes of the fish were 24(40%) within 16 and 20cm, 24(40%) were between 21 and 25cm, while 12(20%) were within 21and 25cm range in length. A total of 312 bacterial isolates which belong to six different bacterial species were recovered from the fish. One hundred and sixty two (52%) were recovered from the intestine, while 150 (48%) were isolated from the gills. Klebsiella spp was the most recovered with 108 (34.6%), Enterobacter spp. 60(19.2%),Proteusspp. 48(15.4%), Escherichia coli, 36 (11.5%) while both Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococci had 30 (9.6%) each, being the least isolated. E coli was only recovered from the intestine while none was isolated from the gills. The bacterial isolates showed a high susceptibility to the antibiotics tested, thereby suggesting that the bacteria may not have been exposed to such drugs.