AQUACULTURE

he bacteriological and biochemical quality of fish feeds used by fish farmers in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government area in metropolis were evaluated in this study. A total of twelve (12) samples were assessed from both locations. Questionnaires were administered to the farmers to get their informed consent. Samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory within 1-5 hours after collection, standard microbiological analysis involving total heterotrophic count of the fish feeds, total coliform bacteria count of the fish feeds, Identification of the bacteria most prevalent in the feeds and antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates. The results revealed that the mean value of total heterotrophic bacteria count for fish feeds obtained from Ikpoba-Okha was 1.72±7.02x10 2 cfu/ml while Egor had a mean value of 5.20±2.13x10 2 cfu/ml. The total coliform bacteria count for Ikpoba-Okha was 0.2±0.82x10 2cfu/ml and Egor, 0.78±3.16x10 2cfu/ml. The prevalence of bacteria isolates in fish feeds obtained from both Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas revealed that Escherichia coli was most prevalent with a percentage value of 20.00% while Actinobacter was least prevalent with a percentage value of 2.50%. Salmonella, Klebsiella sp, Citrobacter, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Chromobacterium, Proteus vulgaris and Shigella sp. Were also present. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all Gram positive bacteria identified in this study was susceptible to gentamycin and ofloxacin, meanwhile all bacteria identified in this study were resistant to ceftriaxone/ceftrazone