Bacterial flora associated
with larval rearing of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium
rosenbergii
P.V. Phatarpekar, V.D. Kenkre, R.A. Sreepada, U.M.
Desai, C.T. Achuthankutty-2002
Aquaculture, 203(3-4): 279-291
Abstract:
Quantitative and qualitative analyses of bacterial
flora associated with larval rearing of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium
rosenbergii, along with important water quality parameters, were carried
out over a larval cycle. Total viable counts (TVC) varied between 1.1±0.6×104
and 9.8±1.5×106 colony forming units (cfu)/ml in water, 2.4±0.4×105
and 8.6±1.6×106 cfu/g in eggs and 2.5±1.4×104 and
1.6±1.0×108 cfu/g in larvae. The bacterial population of eggs
and larvae decreased with the age. Physico-chemical characteristics of water
fell within the optimum ranges. The bacterial flora was predominantly
Gram-negative, comprising more than 75% of the total isolated strains. Aeromonas,
Alcaligenes and Pseudomonas were the most frequently
encountered genera (prevalence>10%) in water, whereas Alcaligenes,
Enterobacteriacae, Pseudomonas and Streptococcus were the most
abundant strains associated with larvae. Vibrio spp. were detected in
eggs and water but were conspicuously absent in larvae. The bacterial flora
of eggs was similar to that of water, while a distinctly different
population was observed in the larvae.
(Aquaculture Laboratory, National Institute of
Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa- 403 004, India, Tel.: +91-832-221322; fax:
+91-832-223340, e-mail of C.T. Achuthankutty: achu@csnio.ren.nic.in)