Presence of E.coli and Vibrio cholerae in fish in Sarawak river

• Main Author: Arfazieda, Binti Anuar
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS 2012
• Subjects: QR Microbiology; SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/6242/1/Arfazieda%20Binti%20Anuar%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/6242/

Sarawak River is widely used for daily purposes, but there is no comprehensive research done to detect and confirm the presence of indicator microorganisms in fish in the Sarawak River. Indicator microorganisms are a group of organisms that indicates the presence of pathogens. The presence of Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae was detected in the water and the various fish species namely, Mystus spp., Arius sagor, Punctius gonionotus, Oreochromis niloticus, Mystus castaneus, Diodon nicthemerus and Neolissochilus thienemanni. The sample was collected from three different tributaries of Sarawak River, Sabang River, Tuang River and Kitang River. The presence of the microorganisms was determined by morphological characteristics and biochemical test. Since the water quality affect the seafood quality, the fish quality was determined through standard plate count and was compared to the standard given by International Commission on Microbiological for Seafood (ICMSF), while the water quality of Sarawak River was determined according to the Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (INWQS) by membrane filter technique. The level of contamination of the water reflects the level of seafood contamination. E. coli and V. cholerae were mostly found in Sabang River. Moreover, the water quality test had classified Sabang River in Class III while Tuang and Kitang River were classified in Class IIA.