Intestinal Bacteria in the University of Basrah fish ponds, Iraq

Abstract

Total bacterial load, total coliforms and faecal coliforms in ponds water and sediments, intestine of common carp Cyprinus carpio and birds faeces were investigated monthly over a period of one year from May 2007 to April 2008. Fish were collected randomly by a cast net from ponds of University of Basra. Total viable bacterial counts were ranging from 2.8،ہ1.9 x 101 to 7.0،ہ2.2 x 103 cfu ml -1 in ponds water, 4.2،ہ2.2 x 104 to 3.8،ہ2.5 x 106 cfu g -1 in ponds sediments, 9.2،ہ2.6 x 104 to 10.9،ہ2.5 x 106 cfu g -1 fish intestine and 2.0،ہ1.4x 106 to 10.7،ہ1.2 x 108 cfu g-l in birds faeces. The most probable number (MPN) of faecal coliforms ranged from 94،ہ5 to ،ـ920،ہ0 100 ml-1 in ponds water; while MPN ranges in sediment, common carp intestine and birds faeces were 63،ہ18 to ،ـ540،ہ0 g-l, 43،ہ5 to ،ـ540،ہ0 g-l and 240،ہ22 to ،ـ540،ہ0 g-l respectively. The abundance of normal bacteria coliforms was greater in the warm months than in the cold months. There were no sources of human faecal matter in the ponds. So, it is clear that faecal coliforms from water birds faeces significantly contaminated (P< 0.05) the ponds and common carp intestines.