Microbial Communities of Culture Water and African Catfish Reared in Different Aquaculture Systems in Nigeria Analyzed Using Culture Dependent Techniques

The microbial communities of culture water and catfish C. gariepinus from three replicates of earthen, concrete and tarpaulin ponds in Nigeria were analyzed. Waters was collected from 25 cm below pond water surface per culture system. Three catfish per replicate system were also collected and analyzed in the lab. Catfish gut, skin and gills were analyzed. Earthen ponds had significantly more diverse microbial community and coliform forming units (CFU/ml) 2.43 x10-4 CFU/ml than the rest systems. Earthen ponds had consortium of Klebsiella pneumonia, S. aureus and Salmonella enteritidis and E. coli, which was more diverse than all other aquaculture systems. Microbiota of tarpaulin ponds was 2.10x10-4 /ml CFU and this was significantly (P<0.05) higher than concrete ponds (1.50x10-4 CFU/ml). Tarpaulin ponds had K. pneumoniae and E. coli, while concrete pond had S. aureus and S. enteritidis. Biofilm formation could have lead to colonization of the fish body part. The skin and gills had similar microbiota as the culture water compared to the gut. The gut microbial communities were not synonymous with the culture water.