Authors : E.A.A. Olojo, N.A. Amusa and P.E. Omogbethai
Abstract: A study was carried on the effect of nickel exposure on the miroflora of the skin and gut of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. C. gariepinus of different stages was applied with nickel and monitored every 24 h over a period of 672 h in wooden vats under a laboratory condition. Eleven adult samples, thirty six post juvenile and thirty one juvenile samples were analyzed for the isolation of microflora using biochemical test. Both gram +ve and gram -ve bacteria were isolated. The gram -ve bacteria isolated were mainly rods and members of the Family Enterobacteriaceae including Proteus and Serratia. These species were more widely distributed in and more frequently isolated from the gut regions than the gram +ve bacteria which were represented by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. Proteus species and Streptococcus species isolated from the gut extracts were also found in the skin region. Bacillus species and Pseudomonas species were also found in both the skin and gut regions of the fish. The number and types of microbes in the skin and gut regions are similar.
E.A.A. Olojo, N.A. Amusa and P.E. Omogbethai, 2012. Effect of Nickel on the Microflora of Gill, Gut and Skin of Clarias gariepinus. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 7: 322-328.