Open AccessBacteria Associated with Biofilms in a Macrobrachium rosenbergii Hatchery
Author(s) -
Bob Kennedy M. Dass,
M. N. Venugopal,
Indrani Karunasagar,
Iddya Karunasagar
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
asian fisheries science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.275
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 2073-3720
pISSN - 0116-6514
DOI - 10.33997/j.afs.2007.20.3.006
Subject(s) - hatchery , biology , macrobrachium rosenbergii , prawn , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , vibrio , biofilm , aeromonas , pseudomonas , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , genetics
Biofilms are important biological structures formed on most submerged aquatic surfaces. They comprise a unique niche wherein a community of microorganisms co-exist. The study was undertaken to identify the bacterial flora associated with biofilms formed on the surface of larval rearing tanks in a prawn hatchery. Surface swabs of two randomly chosen larval rearing tanks in a hatchery were taken regularly throughout the hatchery cycle and the bacterial loads were estimated. The counts varied from 1.8x103 to 4.3x104 CFU.cm-2 in Tank I and 5.1x103 to 3.5x104 CFU.cm-2 in Tank II. No significant difference was observed between Tank I and Tank II in respect of biofilm bacterial count when enumerated (p<0.05). The common bacterial genera isolated in both tanks comprised gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas, Vibrio and Aeromonas. Bacillus and other non-spore formers were the predominant gram-positive bacteria isolated. Bacteria associated with biofilms are more resistant to antibiotics and water sanitizers generally used in tank water treatment. Biofilms can be a reservoir of pathogens and bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Aeromonas and Vibrio isolated from the biofilms in this study may be potential pathogens of prawn larvae in hatcheries.