PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF VIBRIO ISOLATES FROM WEST BENGAL

 Samples were collected from culturedOfloxacin, Norfloxacin and Gentamycin, but
P.monodon in 2 different bheries located in  Westresistant to Ampicillin, Oxytetracycline and
Bengal, where outbreak of disease with highErythromycin . Similar observations have been
mortality was reported. Microbiological analysis ofmade by Thakur et al., (2003), who observed
affected shrimp revealed presence ofhigher sensitivity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V.
predominantly Vibrio spp. in hemolymph andalginolyticus, V. anguillarum and V. vulnificus isolates
hepatopancreas and V.parahaemolyticus,from moribund shrimps to Erythromycin,
V.alginolyticus, V.harveyi and some AeromonasChloramphenicol and Streptomycin but resistant to
were isolated. Presumptive Vibrio counts (PVC) onAmpicillin, Oxytetracycline and Polymyxin-B.  
TCBS in hemolymph and hepatopancreas were in  In the present study Vibrios and Aeromonas
the range of 1.2 x 102 - 2.5x103 CFU hp-1 and 1.6isolates were found to be sensitive to
x102 – 2.8 x104 CFU hp-1 in infectedchloramphenicol, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin
P.monodon, respectively. These values wereand gentamycin indicating their usefulness to
found to be comparatively lower in hemolymphcontrol bacterial infection. However, as a general
(3.0 - 1.6x101 CFUml-1) and hepatopancreas (1.7 xguideline USFDA has banned use of such chemicals
101 – 3.4x102 CFU hp-1) collected fromin aquaculture use due to their high health risks
apparently healthy P.monodon. Similarly the TPC(FDA, 1986). It has been observed that in some
of hemolymph and hepatopancreas on ZMA wascountries like in India, with no specific strict
in the range of 2.2 x 103 - 2.5x105 CFUml-1 andregulation governing the use of these
2.3x 103 – .4.2 x106 CFU hp-1, respectively.chemotherapeutants in fish culture, such chemicals
These values were much lower both inare being widely used in hatcheries and culture
hemolymph and hepatopancreas samples fromponds and tanks (Hameed and Rao, 1994).
uninfected shrimps. The low Vibrio count inConsidering the potential hazards of antibiotics
unaffected shrimp and high Vibrio and totalresponsible for development of antibiotic resistant
bacterial count in affected shrimp indicated thatbacteria in aquatic ecosystem, use of alternative
Vibrios were the inducing etiological agentsantibacterial chemicals like BKC, formalin and
responsible for high mortality in P.monodon.  ThePotassium permanganate, may be advocated for
results indicated that most of the isolates wereuse in aquaculture operations for disease
sensitive to Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin,management.