Evaluation Of Antimicrobial Properties Of Pronutri+ Against A. Hydrophila And V. Alginolyticus.

The bacterium, Aeromonas hydrophila, is a pathogen that can cause Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome and Motile Aeromonas Septicemia (MAS) in freshwater fish, including ornamental fish, tilapia, and catfish. Meanwhile, Vibrio alginolyticus is a high mortality, gram negative bacteria found in brackish and marine environments. Both pathogens are zoonotic and would result in gastroenteritis, septicemia and subcutaneous bruising in humans. The colonization of these bacteria could be controlled by oxytetracycline. However, it was reported that these bacteria began to develop resistance towards oxytetracycline. To aid this situation, products such as ProNutri + were marketed. This product initiates the use of phytotherapy via organic compounds as an immune booster and to inhibit colonization of aquatic pathogens. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ProNutri+, as an organic substitute for oxytetracycline, has a larger zone of growth inhibition against A. hydrophila and V. alginolyticus at varying dilutions. Other than that, this study was also conducted to determine the antimicrobial components of ProNutri+ which are efficient for controlling A. hydrophila and V. alginolyticus infection. Both A. hydrophila and V. alginolyticus samples were obtained from previous research projects. These bacteria samples were isolated from tilapia and sea bass from Kelantan, Malaysia. The samples were then used to conduct Agar Well Diffusion Test (AWDT) and Disc Diffusion Test (DDT) for Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test (AST) with oxytetracycline diffusion disc as a control. Meanwhile, the ProNutri + solution was also used for GC-MS qualitative analysis. Based on the result, ProNutri + shows no inhibitory effect towards both A. hydrophila and V. alginolyticus. From the GC-MS result, this product contains phytochemicals such as cyclotrisiloxane, isopropyl myristate, naphthalene, cyclobutane, 1,1'-(1,2-cyclobutanediyl), benzophenone, methylene chloride, arsenous acid which have a broad spectrum antimicrobial effect. However, these components are not proven effective to inhibit colonization of A. hydrophila and V. alginolyticus.
Keywords: Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio alginolyticus, ProNutri +, Agar Well Diffusion Test, GC-MS