Incidence of some pathogenic organisms in cultured shrimp (penaeus monodon) collected from Chilaw

Abstract

Samples offarm shrimp and pond water were collectedfrom Chi/aw. Totalbacterial counts of coliforms and Escherichia coli are reportedfor these samples.Pathogens Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Salmonella along with qualitativemicroflora are also reported.The bacterial counts of water rangedfrom 5 x 102/gto 8.8 x 103/g whereasthat of shrimp rangedfrom 2.0 x IO"/g to 9.0 x lO'/g. E. coli. ranged from 3 toII/g for prawns 3/I00ml. to 49/I00ml. for pond water. Two shrimp sampleswere positive for v. parahaemolyticus bacterial counts, coliforms or E. colicounts did not show any correlation with water salinity, which rangedfrom 14-18ppt,Gram positive bacteria were predominant in shrimp and were representedby Micrococci (41.8%). Corynebacterium (19.3%) and Bacillus (14.2%).Common gram-negatives were Vibrios (19.2%) and Pseudomonas (5%).