Assessment of Bacteria Load and Species Diversity in Clarias Gariepinus (african Catfish) Cultured in Earthen Pond and Concrete Pond Within Ilorin West, Kwara State.

Student: Ruth Ayobami Adekanye (Project, 2025)
Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries
University of Ilorin, Kwara State

Abstract

These study assessed the bacterial load and species diversity in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) cultured in earthen and concrete ponds within Ilorin West, Kwara State. A total of eight fish samples were collected from earthen pond and concrete pond. Standard microbiological methods, including serial dilution, culture, and biochemical identification, were used to enumerate and identify bacterial isolates from the skin, gills, mouth, and intestine. Results indicated that the earthen pond had higher Total Viable Count (TVC) and Total Coliform Count (TCC) than the concrete pond (54.5±2.5 vs. 40.5±2.5 CFU/mL and 12.0±1.0 vs. 8.0±1.0 CFU/mL, respectively). However, fish from concrete ponds harbored more coliforms internally, particularly in the intestine and gills. Identified bacteria included Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella spp. It can be concluded that the organisms isolated in this study has the potential of becoming pathogenic and dangerous risk which may cause great economic loss to fish farmers and to people that consume catfish, therefore the hygiene of raising catfish should be improved. Catfish should also be properly processed before consumption.

Keywords
African catfish bacterial load species diversity earthen pond concrete pond aquaculture Ilorin West Kwara State
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