Prevalence of Pseudomonas spp. in Marine Water Fish Intended for Human Consumption

Abstract

This study aimed at investigation of the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas spp., in two marine water fish, namely Pagrus, and saurus intended for human consumption. In the current study, Pseudomonas spp., was isolated and identified from two marine water fishes. Fifty Pagrus fish and 50 Saurus (Saurida undosquamis) fish were sampled from fish markets at Sharkia governorate, Egypt. The prevalence rates of Pseudomonas spp. were 84%, and 40% in Pagrus fish, and Saurus respectively. The identified Pseudomonas spp., from Saurus was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.  aeruginosa), P. fluorescens, P. fragi, P. cepacia, at 20% for each. P. alcaligenes and P. lundensis were recovered at 10%. In Pagrus, the prevalence rates were 31.3%, 56.3%, and 6.2% for P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, P. fragi and P. stutzeri. Seven serotypes of P. aeruginosa were identified with the serotypes O11 at the top prevalence (42.8%), and O6, O5, O1, O8 at 19.3% for each. The virulence-associated genes were lasB (Elastase B gene), exoS (Exoenzyme S) and pilB (pili gene) were detected in the recovered P. aeruginosa at 100%, 71.4%, and 28.6%, respectively.  The recovered Pseudomonas species had high antimicrobial resistance to erythromycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin and gentamycin at 100%, 88.5%, 65.4%, and 50%, respectively. In conclusion, Pagrus and Saurus fish species are considered as potential sources of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas spp.