International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies
2019, Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part C
Temperature and ph influence on bacterial pathogens infecting farmed Nile tilapia in aquaculture systems in Bungoma county, Kenya
Author(s): DM Mukwabi, PO Okemo, SO Otieno, RO Oduor and CM Macharia
Abstract: Aquaculture production, therefore, has been expanding in recent years through Governement support via financial and input subsidies in small scale farmers. However, fish farming just like other productive sectors face challenges which include fish diseases that constitute the largest cause of economic loss in aquaculture. The fish bacterial infections are caused by
Aeromonas, Edwardsiella, Flavobacterium, Francisella, Photobacterium, Piscirickettsia, Pseudomonas, Tenacibaculum, Vibrio, Yersinia, Lactococcus, Renibacterium, Streptococcus, Nocardia, Staphylococcus, Vagococcus and
Weissella species. This study focused on characterizing pathogenic bacteria present in aquaculture systems in Bungoma County. The sampled fish were transferred to a microbiology laboratory in Nairobi where they were subjected to bacterial analysis including microscopy, culture methods and biochemical tests. The study showed that temperature and pH were outside the recommended levels of fish culture production. Further, pathogenic bacteria recovered were
Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Nile tilapia.
Vibrio vulnificus and
Vibrio parahaemolyticus were isolated from gills and were found to be significantly different (
P<0.001) across the six sub counties. In fish ponds water,
Aeromonas hydrophila were isolated and found to be significantly different (
P<0.016) across the sub counties. In addition,
Streptococcus iniae were isolated from fish feeds. Therefore, efforts should be made to reduce the presence of bacterial pathogens in aquaculture in order to increase fish yields.
Pages: 190-197 | 1117 Views 309 DownloadsDownload Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
DM Mukwabi, PO Okemo, SO Otieno, RO Oduor, CM Macharia. Temperature and ph influence on bacterial pathogens infecting farmed Nile tilapia in aquaculture systems in Bungoma county, Kenya. Int J Fish Aquat Stud 2019;7(1):190-197.