Status of Pathogenic Bacteria with their Antibiotic Susceptibility in Indigenous and Exotic Climbing Perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1972) in North-Eastern Bangladesh

Information on pathogenic bacterial contamination and their antibiotic susceptibility to infrequently consumed fishes are largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the status of pathogenic bacteria with their antibiotic susceptibility in two varieties of climbing perch Anabas testudineus (capture-based indigenous and culture-based exotic) in North-Eastern Bangladesh. Thirty (30) indigenous and exotic climbing perch were collected separately from ten (10) fish markets of Sylhet Sadar to investigate total viable count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC), total faecal coliform (TFC) count, and a variety of pathogenic bacteria with their antibiogram profile. Significantly (P<0.05) higher values of TVC, TCC, and TFC were recorded in indigenous climbing perch than those of the exotic variety. The pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Vibrio spp. were detected in the studied samples. In comparison to the indigenous climbing perch, the antibiotic sensitivity assay revealed that exotic climbing perch had more multidrug-resistant bacteria. Since the presence of pathogenic bacteria in fresh fish is unsafe for human consumption and considered as rejected for export, the current study emphasizes the importance of assuring the safety and quality of climbing perch at all stages until it reaches consumers.