Antibiotic resistant bacteria in consumable fishes from Digha coast, West Bengal, India

Antibiotic resistant bacteria from the commercial marine catch of the pelagic fishes in the Bay of Bengal at Digha coast (21°37′N, 87°33′E), West Bengal, India were evaluated. Aerobic heterotrophic and gram negative, along with the enteric bacteria were enumerated from gill and intestinal homogenates. Media supplemented with the antibiotics were used to evaluate the antibiotic resistant bacterial load. Viable counts (CFU g−1) of heterotrophic and resistant bacteria from gills were higher than those from the intestinal content. Significant variations were also noted among the percentages of bacteria (CFU) resistant to different antibiotics. High incidences of resistance to ampicillin, as well as, most sensitivity to chloramphenicol were noticed for the isolated bacterial strains. Results of the present study suggests that commercial marine fish catch at Digha coast might play a role as carrier / reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacteria creating a health risk for the fish consumers. © 2010, Zoological Society, Kolkata.