Slime and Intestinal Aerobic Microflora of Tilapia Nilotica from Lake Awassa, Ethiopia

Abstract

One hundred fISh (Tilapia niIoIica) taken from Lake Awassa in Ethiopia were examined for their slime md intestinal microflora. A total of 104 bacterial cultures were isolated, of which 120 could not be identified with the leclmique used in the study. The remaining 584 isolates were identified to the genus level and belonged to 13 genera. Bacteria of the genera Enlerobacler, Escherichia, Klebsiella and Cilrobacter were isolated in 62%, 61 %, 52% and 34% of !he slime samples respectively. Aeromonas, Klebsiella, Escherichia and Enlerobocter were isolated in 56%, 40%, 37% and 36% of the intestine samples respectively. The potential of most of the isolates as fish pathogens, fish spoilage microorganisms, histamine producers and foodpoisoning organisms is highlighted. More elaborate studies on the microbiology of specific problems in the various E!hiopiaR fresh water fish are recor1U1)ended.