Microbial Assessment and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacterial Fish Isolates in an Aquaculture Production Site in Mefou Afamba Division of Cameroon

The practice of integrated fish farming and the use of local fish meal and manure for fish feeding in Cameroon constitute potential sources of resistant pathogenic bacteria in the fish pond environment. Therefore, a periodical and constant monitoring of the microbiological quality of fish pond is imperative. This study was to assess the microbial contamination of Mfou aquaculture production site and evaluate the antibiotic resistance profile of bacterial fish isolates. Samples of pond water (n = 36), sediment (n = 36), fishmeal (n = 12) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), kanga (Heterotis niloticus) and Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (n = 36, each) were collected to determine TVAC (Total Viable Aerobic Bacterial Count), FC (Fungal Count), SAC (Staphylococcus aureus count), TCC (Total Coliform Count) and FCC (Feacal Coliform Count). The fish skin isolates of S. aureus, Enterobacter sakazakii, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia fonticola, Klebsiella oxytoca, Proteus spp., Aeromonas hydrophila, Kluyvera spp., Moraxella spp., Pasteurella multocida and Pseudomonas fluorescens were tested against penicillin G (10 μg), chloramphenicol (30 μg), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (25 μg), erythromycin (15 μg), tetracycline (30 μg), using the disk diffusion method. Results reveal a heavy contamination of fish farms with microbial load above the recommended limits. Our study indicates that fish ponds are sources of zoonotic pathogens underlining their epidemiological and clinical relevance. All bacterial isolates were multiresistant with a multiple antibiotic resistance index above 0.2. These data raise concern about the microbial contamination of aquaculture and associated public health risks in Cameroon.