et al., F. (2025). The Impact of Water Physico-Chemical Parameters on the Microbiological Quality of Algerian Red Tilapia. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 29(4), 4887-4900. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.446715
Foughalia et al.. "The Impact of Water Physico-Chemical Parameters on the Microbiological Quality of Algerian Red Tilapia". Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 29, 4, 2025, 4887-4900. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.446715
et al., F. (2025). 'The Impact of Water Physico-Chemical Parameters on the Microbiological Quality of Algerian Red Tilapia', Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 29(4), pp. 4887-4900. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.446715
et al., F. The Impact of Water Physico-Chemical Parameters on the Microbiological Quality of Algerian Red Tilapia. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 2025; 29(4): 4887-4900. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.446715
The Impact of Water Physico-Chemical Parameters on the Microbiological Quality of Algerian Red Tilapia
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of water physicochemical parameters on the microbiological quality of Algerian red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) in selected fish farms. The research was conducted from September 2022 to October 2023 across three fish farms located in Biskra, Jijel, and Skikda. At each site, water quality parameters—including pH, water temperature (Tw), dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, electrical conductivity, phosphate (PO₄³⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻), salinity, and total dissolved solids (TDS)—were measured in triplicate during each sampling using standard methods. A total of 75 fish were collected for microbiological analysis. The counts of total and faecal coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, and total mesophilic aerobic flora were assessed in three body parts of each fish: the intestine, skin, and muscle. The results revealed that the intestine was the most contaminated part. Furthermore, bacterial counts were positively correlated with several water quality parameters, as confirmed by the Spearman correlation test (P < 0.05). Among these, water temperature, ammonium, and phosphate were identified as the most significant factors, showing strong associations with bacterial presence across all study sites. These findings highlight the importance of regular monitoring and control of water quality in fish ponds to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination and improve fish health.