Characterisation of salmonella spp. antibiogram in red hybrid tilapia fish (tilapia sp.)

The present study is to characterise antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the Salmonella spp. isolated from red hybrid tilapia (Tilapia sp.) from commercial freshwater fish farm of Kelantan. There was no database information on antibiogram of bacteria from red hybrid tilapia although it is the second largest estimated aquaculture production in Malaysia. Thus, this study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of antibiotics to control Salmonella spp. diseases in red hybrid tilapia. These results can be used as a guideline for fish prophylactic and treatment purposes to reduce antibiotic resistance cases in the future. Moreover, the present study also provides information on the safety level of consuming red hybrid tilapia produced from Kampung Jeram Pasu, Pasir Putih based on multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index. Antibiotic sensitivity test was carried out by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method against 19 types of antibiotics.The results showed that the percentage of sensitivity case of the 20 bacterial isolates to the tested antibiotics was 42.1 (Yo. This was followed by resistance (54.5 %) and intermediary sensitive (3.4%) cases. The present bacterial isolates are most sensitive to chloramphenicol (100 (Y0). Hence, choramphenicol can be used to overcome disease outbreak of Salmonella spp. Lastly, MAR index recorded was 0.49, indicated that the hatchery water source and red hybrid tilapia were at high-risk exposure to the tested antibiotics.