Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha

Padmabati Nayak; Sambit Kumar Dwibedy; Sushil K. Rathore; Namita Panigrahy

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22

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Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha

Padmabati Nayak

, Sambit Kumar Dwibedy

, Sushil K. Rathore, Namita Panigrahy^*

Published in American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Received: 31 December 2025 Accepted: 19 January 2026 Published: 17 October 2026

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Abstract

Bacteria are essential components of aquatic ecosystems, performing critical ecological functions and influencing the health of their hosts. With aquaculture recognized as the fastest-growing food production sector, ensuring the bacteriological safety of freshwater fish is vital for ecological sustainability and human health. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify the bacterial diversity associated with the skin, fins, gills, and gastrointestinal tracts of eight freshwater fish species, including Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and selected catfishes, collected from various water bodies of the Ganjam district, Odisha. Bacteriological profiling was conducted for isolation, morphological characterization, selective media, and biochemical identification, using standard microbiological methods. 72 bacterial isolates were recovered and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method against ten antibiotics from different classes, including carbapenems, beta-lactams and polymyxins. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the highest bacterial load in the gut of Anabas testudineus (2.8 × 10⁷ CFU/ml), followed by Labeo species. Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more prevalent than Gram-negative bacteria species. The identified genera included Gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Micrococcus as well as Gram negative bacteria, such as Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Proteus, while Escherichia coli and Vibrio species were not detected. The antibiogram revealed significant resistance to ampicillin, penicillin-G, and colistin, whereas chloramphenicol remained effective against most isolates. These findings indicate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in commercially important freshwater fishes and highlight the importance of rational use of antibiotics, improved aquaculture management, and stringent food safety measures to mitigate potential public health risks.

Published in	American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology (Volume 11, Issue 4) This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Translational Research, Biotechnology, and Sustainable Bio-Innovations
DOI	10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22
Page(s)	339-346
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Aquaculture, Ganjam, Antimicrobial Resistance, Bacteriological Profiling, Food Safety, Anabas testudineus

1. Introduction

The bacterial flora is the essential component of aquatic ecosystems, performing critical ecological functions with great diversity while influencing the health of their hosts

[1]

. Bacterial diversity in freshwater fishes is ecologically significant as these reflect the interaction between host, environment, diet, and pathogen exposure. Freshwater fish play an important role in the aquatic environment as well as in the human population. They are a great source of dietary protein, vitamins, minerals, and low-fat food, as well as a biological indicator of contaminated aquatic ecosystems

[2]

India is one of the leading producers of freshwater fishes, with rapidly intensifying culture of carps, catfishes, and other species in different freshwater bodies

[3, 4]

. Freshwater fish may be susceptible to some infectious diseases temporarily in their lives. Bacteria are saprophytic in nature but become pathogenic under stress and unfavourable environmental conditions

[5]

. Bacterial diseases of fish cause huge economic loss as well as create a great concern for public health.

The antibiotics used in treating bacterial diseases are one of the common practice in the aquaculture sector; it plays as a major role to control such bacterial infections and disease outbreaks in aquaculture. However the widespread and unlimited misuse of antibiotics in the fresh water aquatic systems for treating bacterial diseases induces antimicrobial resistance in various fish pathogens globally

[6]

. As a consequence, there is a possibility of transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria from aquatic system to humans through fish by-products

[7]

. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) has escalated globally, causing significant concern in public health. The emergence of MDR bacteria from diverse sources emphasises the screening of MDR bacterial strains and judicious use of antibiotics

[8]

Ganjam is a district of Odisha, located along south eastern coast of India, rich in fresh water bodies, such as rivers, riverine lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and tanks, contributing both in culture-based fisheries and inland capture fisheries

[9]

. The district is one of the major producers of freshwater fish in Odisha, with a diverse species, including Indian major carps and catfishes. However, the microbial ecology, specifically the bacterial flora associated with edible fresh water fish fauna, has not been meticulously explored. The present study provides the first systematic approach to identifying and documenting the common bacterial flora found in the primary edible fresh water fishes of Ganjam, along with their antibiotic susceptibility testing.

2. Materials & Methods

2.1. Study Area and Sample Collection

The present study was conducted in Ganjam district, Odisha (19°38′0″ N, 85°07′0″ E). A total of 65 freshwater fish samples representing eight species were collected from rivers, reservoirs, and ponds between July 2024 and December 2024. Fish samples were transported under aseptic conditions in ice boxes to the laboratory for analysis.

2.2. Sample Preparation

Skin, gill, fin, and gut tissues were aseptically excised. One gram of tissue was homogenised in 9 mL sterile saline. Serial dilutions up to 10^-8 were prepared for microbial enumeration.

2.3. CFU Enumeration and Isolation

Colony-forming units (CFU/ml) were determined using the Single Plate Serial Dilution Spotting (SPSDS) method

[10]

. Pure isolates of bacterial colonies were obtained by sub culturing on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar.

2.4. Identification of Bacteria

Isolates were subjected to Gram staining, morphological observation, and growth on selective media, including MacConkey agar, Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar, and Cetrimide agar. Biochemical tests, including catalase, oxidase, IMViC, urease, and Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) tests, were performed for identification

[11-13]

2.5. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

The antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method using Mueller–Hinton agar following CLSI guidelines

[14, 15]

. Antibiotics tested included ampicillin (10 µg), penicillin-G (10 units), kanamycin (30 µg), meropenem (10 µg), trimethoprim (5 µg), chloramphenicol (30 µg), ciprofloxacin (5 µg), colistin (10 µg), tetracycline (30 µg), and nalidixic acid (30 µg).

3. Results

3.1. Fish Species and Sampling Sites

A total of 65 fish samples comprising 8 different species of freshwater fishes, including Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Notopterus notopterus, Anabas testudineus, Chana punctata, Chana striata, Mugil cephalus, and Clarias batrachus, were collected from distinct sampling sites, such as Rushikulya River, Baghua, and different ponds of Ganjam (Table 1). The total length of collected fish varied from 12 cm to 43 cm (Figure 1).

3.2. Bacterial Load

The highest bacterial load was recorded in the gut of Anabas testudineus (2.8 × 10⁷ CFU/ml), followed by Labeo rohita. Generally, gut tissues showed higher bacterial counts than skin, gill, and fin tissues (Table 2).

3.3. Isolation and Identification

Seventy-two bacterial isolates were obtained. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 54%, while Gram-negative bacteria constituted 46%. Identified genera included Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Lactobacillus, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Proteus, and Enterobacter (Figure 3).

3.4. Antibiotic Resistance Pattern

Most isolates showed resistance to ampicillin and penicillin-G. Chloramphenicol and tetracycline exhibited higher effectiveness. Several isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance phenotypes (Figure 4).

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Figure 1. Fresh water fishes (A) Labeo rohita, (B) Mugil cephalus, (C) Notopterus notopterus, and (D) Chana punctatus.

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Figure 2. Percentage of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolates.

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Figure 3. Occurrence of Bacterial Isolates from Freshwater Fishes.

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Figure 4. Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Bacterial isolates.

Table 1. Collection Sites of Fish Samples.

Sampling Site	Name of fish	Common name	Length (cm)
Chhatrapur Pata, Chhatrapur	Anabas testudineus	Kau	12
Chhatrapur Pata, Chhatrapur	Mugil cephalus	Meji	19
Randha Bandha, Randha	Labeo rohita	Rohi	43
Baghua Nadi	Notopterus notopterus	Fali	14
Ganjam Pata, Ganjam	Channa punctata	Gadisha	17
Ganjam Pata, Ganjam	Channa striata	Seula	28
Rushikulya River, Ganjam	Labeo rohita	Rohu	30
Rushikulya River, Ganjam	Notopterus notopterus	Fali	18
Rangeilunda Pond, Rangeilunda	Clarias batrachus	Magur	15
Lanjipali Bandha, Berhampur	Catla catla	Bhakur	30
Lanjipali Bandha, Berhampur	Channa striata	Seula	40
Ghodahada Dam	Anabas testudineus	Kau	14
Surada Pond, Surada	Labeo rohita	Rohu	35
Bada Bandha, Digapahandi	Catla catla	Bhakura	36

Table 2. Total Bacterial Load in Different Tissues of Fishes.

Sl. No.	Name of fish	Tissue sample	Bacterial load (cfu/ml)
01	Anabas testudineus	Gill	2.1×10⁵
		Gut	2.8×10⁷
		Fin	2.2×10⁵
		Skin	2.2×10⁶
02	Clarias batrachus	Gill	2.4×10⁶
		Gut	1.7×10⁵
		Fin	2.3×10⁴
		Skin	3.1×10⁵
03	Labeo rohita	Gill	1.9×10⁶
		Gut	1.8×10⁷
		Skin	4.1×10⁵
		Fin	3.2×10⁴
04	Notopterus notopterus	Gill	1.9×10⁶
		Gut	3.1×10⁶
		Skin	1.8×10⁶
		Fin	2.5×10⁵
05	Catla catla	Gill	1.5×10⁵
		Gut	5.3×10⁶
		Skin	1.5×10⁵
		Fin	4.1×10⁴
06	Channa punctata	Gill	3.6×10⁵
		Gut	1.5×10⁵
		Skin	2.2×10⁵
		Fin	3.1×10⁵
07	Mugil cephalus	Gill	1.2×10⁶
		Gut	2.5×10⁶
		Skin	1.2×10⁶
		Fin	2.2×10⁴
08	Channa striata	Gill	2.1×10⁶
		Gut	1.9×10⁶
		Skin	1.6×10⁵
		Fin	3.1×10⁵

4. Discussion

The bacterial isolates recovered from the fish samples comprised both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Aeromonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., Proteus sp., and Enterobacter sp. These findings are consistent with earlier studies conducted by Austin and Austin

[16]

, Ibrahim et al.

[17]

, and Kyule et al.

[18]

, who reported similar bacterial diversity in freshwater fish. The present investigation further indicates that inland freshwater bodies of the Ganjam district may serve as reservoirs of diverse bacterial communities. The highest bacterial load was observed in the gut of the fish, which is in agreement with reports from other aquatic ecosystems worldwide

[19, 20]

. In total, 72 bacterial isolates were obtained from the skin, fin, gill, and gut samples.

Among Gram-negative bacteria, Aeromonas spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were the most prevalent isolates recovered from the skin, gill, fin, and gut of apparently healthy fishes. These organisms are recognized as opportunistic pathogens associated with diseases such as hemorrhagic septicemia and epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS), leading to significant economic losses in the aquaculture sector. The isolation of Aeromonas spp. and Pseudomonas spp. from infected fish tissues has also been reported by various authors

[21–24]

. Additionally, Proteus sp. and Enterobacter sp. were identified in the present study, which aligns with the findings of Surendraraj et al.

[25]

and Rawash et al.

[26]

Among Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus spp. and Bacillus spp. were the predominant isolates, while Micrococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Lactobacillus spp. were also recovered from the skin, fin, gill and gut of the fishes. Among these bacteria, some are natural inhabitants of aquatic environments. However, the presence of others may indicate contamination in aquatic environments or anthropogenic influence within the aquatic ecosystems

[27-29]

The present study revealed that most bacterial isolates were resistant to ampicillin, penicillin-G, and kanamycin, while sensitive to chloramphenicol and tetracycline. The detection of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in freshwater fishes in this study corroborates the reported findings

[30]

. The emergence of antibiotic resistance may be due to the indiscriminate and misuse of antibiotics in aquaculture practices, which creates a selective pressure on bacterial populations and induces the development and dissemination of resistant bacterial strains.

5. Conclusions

This study explores significant bacterial diversity and also demonstrates the presence of antimicrobial-resistant isolates in freshwater fishes of Ganjam district. The detection of multidrug-resistant bacteria in aquaculture highlights the need for improved aquaculture management, prudent use of antibiotics, and regular microbial surveillance to safeguard food safety and public health.

Abbreviations

CFU	Colony Forming Unit
SPSDS	Single Plate Serial Dilution Spotting
CLSI	Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
AMR	Antimicrobial Resistance
MDR	Multidrug Resistance

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Department of Zoology, GIET University, and Department of Zoology, S.B.R.G. Women’s College, for laboratory facilities.

Author Contributions

Padmabati Nayak: Conceptualization, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft

Sambit Kumar Dwibedy: Methodology, Formal analysis, Validation

Sushil K. Rathore: Conceptualization, Data curation, Supervision

Namita Panigrahy: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing- review & editing

Funding

There is no external funding for this work.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Nayak, P., Dwibedy, S. K., Rathore, S. K., Panigrahy, N. (2026). Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha. American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 11(4), 339-346. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22

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Nayak, P.; Dwibedy, S. K.; Rathore, S. K.; Panigrahy, N. Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha. Am. J. Sci. Eng. Technol. 2026, 11(4), 339-346. doi: 10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22

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AMA Style

Nayak P, Dwibedy SK, Rathore SK, Panigrahy N. Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha. Am J Sci Eng Technol. 2026;11(4):339-346. doi: 10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22

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@article{10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22,
  author = {Padmabati Nayak and Sambit Kumar Dwibedy and Sushil K. Rathore and Namita Panigrahy},
  title = {Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha},
  journal = {American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {339-346},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajset.20261104.22},
  abstract = {Bacteria are essential components of aquatic ecosystems, performing critical ecological functions and influencing the health of their hosts. With aquaculture recognized as the fastest-growing food production sector, ensuring the bacteriological safety of freshwater fish is vital for ecological sustainability and human health. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify the bacterial diversity associated with the skin, fins, gills, and gastrointestinal tracts of eight freshwater fish species, including Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and selected catfishes, collected from various water bodies of the Ganjam district, Odisha. Bacteriological profiling was conducted for isolation, morphological characterization, selective media, and biochemical identification, using standard microbiological methods. 72 bacterial isolates were recovered and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method against ten antibiotics from different classes, including carbapenems, beta-lactams and polymyxins. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the highest bacterial load in the gut of Anabas testudineus (2.8 × 107 CFU/ml), followed by Labeo species. Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more prevalent than Gram-negative bacteria species. The identified genera included Gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Micrococcus as well as Gram negative bacteria, such as Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Proteus, while Escherichia coli and Vibrio species were not detected. The antibiogram revealed significant resistance to ampicillin, penicillin-G, and colistin, whereas chloramphenicol remained effective against most isolates. These findings indicate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in commercially important freshwater fishes and highlight the importance of rational use of antibiotics, improved aquaculture management, and stringent food safety measures to mitigate potential public health risks.},
 year = {2026}
}

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AB  - Bacteria are essential components of aquatic ecosystems, performing critical ecological functions and influencing the health of their hosts. With aquaculture recognized as the fastest-growing food production sector, ensuring the bacteriological safety of freshwater fish is vital for ecological sustainability and human health. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify the bacterial diversity associated with the skin, fins, gills, and gastrointestinal tracts of eight freshwater fish species, including Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and selected catfishes, collected from various water bodies of the Ganjam district, Odisha. Bacteriological profiling was conducted for isolation, morphological characterization, selective media, and biochemical identification, using standard microbiological methods. 72 bacterial isolates were recovered and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method against ten antibiotics from different classes, including carbapenems, beta-lactams and polymyxins. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the highest bacterial load in the gut of Anabas testudineus (2.8 × 107 CFU/ml), followed by Labeo species. Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more prevalent than Gram-negative bacteria species. The identified genera included Gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Micrococcus as well as Gram negative bacteria, such as Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Proteus, while Escherichia coli and Vibrio species were not detected. The antibiogram revealed significant resistance to ampicillin, penicillin-G, and colistin, whereas chloramphenicol remained effective against most isolates. These findings indicate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in commercially important freshwater fishes and highlight the importance of rational use of antibiotics, improved aquaculture management, and stringent food safety measures to mitigate potential public health risks.
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Author Information

Padmabati Nayak

Department of Zoology, School of Sciences, Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology University, Gunupur, India;Department of Zoology, Sashi Bhusan Rath Government Women’s College,Berhampur, India

Biography: Padmabati Nayak is a lecturer in the P.G. Department of Zoology, SBR Govt. Women’s College, Berhampur, Odisha and PhD scholar in Zoology, GIET University, Gunupur, Odisha, India. She obtained her M.Sc. degree in Zoology from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Her research focuses on Aquaculture, Microbiology and Molecular biology. She has presented and participated in various state, national, and international conferences, seminars, and workshops. She is dedicated towards teaching and research work in related fields.

Research Fields: Aquaculture, Fish pathology, Environmental Microbiology.

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-9658-853X
Sambit Kumar Dwibedy

Department of Zoology, Sashi Bhusan Rath Government Women’s College,Berhampur, India

Biography: Sambit Kumar Dwibedy is currently working in SBR Govt. Women’s College, Berhampur, Odisha, India. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Berhampur University, Berhampur. His research focuses on Biodiversity, Wildlife Conservation and Molecular Microbiology. He has published numerous research papers and scientific articles in reputed jouranals. He has presented and participated in numerous state, national, and international conferences, seminars, workshops, and symposiums. She also holds a published Indian patent on algae-based nutritionally enriched fish feed. With extensive experience in molecular microbiology and analytical techniques such as HPLC, PCR, FT-IR, and UV-Visible spectroscopy, he is dedicated with extensive research work in related studies.

Research Fields: Biodiversity, Wildlife conservation, Molecular Microbiology

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3901-1447
Sushil K. Rathore

Department of Zoology, Khallikote Unitary University,Berhampur, India

Biography: Sushil K. Rathore is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, Khallikote Unitary University, Berhampur, Odisha, India. He obtained his Ph.D. in Life Science from KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. His research focuses on Virology, Epidemiology and Population Genetics. He has published numerous research papers and articles in reputed journals and has various other achievements in related studies. He has presented and participated in numerous state, national, and international conferences, seminars, workshops, and symposiums. He has extended valuable service towards the scientific community with extensive research work.

Research Fields: Epidemiology, Virology, Population Genetics
Namita Panigrahy

Department of Zoology, School of Sciences, Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology University, Gunupur, India

Biography: Namita Panigrahy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Sciences, GIET University, Gunupur, Odisha, India. She obtained her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar. Her research focuses on microbial bioremediation, Environmental Biotechnology and Industrial Microbiology for the treatment of industrial wastewater. She has authored over fifteen scientific articles and two book chapters from international publishers. She has presented and participated in numerous state, national, and international conferences, seminars, workshops, and symposiums. She also holds a published Indian patent on algae-based nutritionally enriched fish feed. With extensive experience in environmental biotechnology and analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC–MS, FT-IR, and UV-Visible spectroscopy, she is dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability and mentoring students in life sciences research.

Research Fields: Environmental Biotechnology, Industrial Microbiology, Microbial Remediation.

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0190-8566

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APA Style

Nayak, P., Dwibedy, S. K., Rathore, S. K., Panigrahy, N. (2026). Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha. American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 11(4), 339-346. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22

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ACS Style

Nayak, P.; Dwibedy, S. K.; Rathore, S. K.; Panigrahy, N. Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha. Am. J. Sci. Eng. Technol. 2026, 11(4), 339-346. doi: 10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22

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AMA Style

Nayak P, Dwibedy SK, Rathore SK, Panigrahy N. Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha. Am J Sci Eng Technol. 2026;11(4):339-346. doi: 10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22

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@article{10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22,
  author = {Padmabati Nayak and Sambit Kumar Dwibedy and Sushil K. Rathore and Namita Panigrahy},
  title = {Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha},
  journal = {American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {339-346},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajset.20261104.22},
  abstract = {Bacteria are essential components of aquatic ecosystems, performing critical ecological functions and influencing the health of their hosts. With aquaculture recognized as the fastest-growing food production sector, ensuring the bacteriological safety of freshwater fish is vital for ecological sustainability and human health. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify the bacterial diversity associated with the skin, fins, gills, and gastrointestinal tracts of eight freshwater fish species, including Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and selected catfishes, collected from various water bodies of the Ganjam district, Odisha. Bacteriological profiling was conducted for isolation, morphological characterization, selective media, and biochemical identification, using standard microbiological methods. 72 bacterial isolates were recovered and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method against ten antibiotics from different classes, including carbapenems, beta-lactams and polymyxins. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the highest bacterial load in the gut of Anabas testudineus (2.8 × 107 CFU/ml), followed by Labeo species. Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more prevalent than Gram-negative bacteria species. The identified genera included Gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Micrococcus as well as Gram negative bacteria, such as Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Proteus, while Escherichia coli and Vibrio species were not detected. The antibiogram revealed significant resistance to ampicillin, penicillin-G, and colistin, whereas chloramphenicol remained effective against most isolates. These findings indicate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in commercially important freshwater fishes and highlight the importance of rational use of antibiotics, improved aquaculture management, and stringent food safety measures to mitigate potential public health risks.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Freshwater Fishes in Ganjam, Odisha
AU  - Padmabati Nayak
AU  - Sambit Kumar Dwibedy
AU  - Sushil K. Rathore
AU  - Namita Panigrahy
Y1  - 2026/10/17
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22
T2  - American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology
JF  - American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology
JO  - American Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology
SP  - 339
EP  - 346
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8353
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.22
AB  - Bacteria are essential components of aquatic ecosystems, performing critical ecological functions and influencing the health of their hosts. With aquaculture recognized as the fastest-growing food production sector, ensuring the bacteriological safety of freshwater fish is vital for ecological sustainability and human health. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify the bacterial diversity associated with the skin, fins, gills, and gastrointestinal tracts of eight freshwater fish species, including Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and selected catfishes, collected from various water bodies of the Ganjam district, Odisha. Bacteriological profiling was conducted for isolation, morphological characterization, selective media, and biochemical identification, using standard microbiological methods. 72 bacterial isolates were recovered and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method against ten antibiotics from different classes, including carbapenems, beta-lactams and polymyxins. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the highest bacterial load in the gut of Anabas testudineus (2.8 × 107 CFU/ml), followed by Labeo species. Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more prevalent than Gram-negative bacteria species. The identified genera included Gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Micrococcus as well as Gram negative bacteria, such as Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Proteus, while Escherichia coli and Vibrio species were not detected. The antibiogram revealed significant resistance to ampicillin, penicillin-G, and colistin, whereas chloramphenicol remained effective against most isolates. These findings indicate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in commercially important freshwater fishes and highlight the importance of rational use of antibiotics, improved aquaculture management, and stringent food safety measures to mitigate potential public health risks.
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

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