European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ENUMERATION OF TOTAL COLIFORM FAECEL BACTERIA AT TWO DIFFERENT FISH LANDING CENTRES OF TUTICORIN

Jenivi A.*, Sivakumar V. and Sakthivel R.

ABSTRACT

The present investigation was aimed to explore the total coliform, Streptococcus aureus and faecel Streptococcus counts of the sea water from two selected fish landing stations of Tuticorin viz., Thirespuram and Sinthathirai matha kovil areas during 2007-2008. Formation of coliforms are analysed by standard procedure of MPN (Oblinger and Koburger, 1975) and IMVIC test (Poers and Latt, 1977). Enumeration of faecel coliform was detected by membrane filter technique (Bernasoni et al., 2006). The faecel streptococcal screening was carried out using multiple tube dilution method explained by Grasso et al., (2000). The results of two studied stations revealed that, station 2 encountered maximum Streptococcus aureus and faecel Streptococcus count in sea water [1400 MPN/100ml]. At station 1 and 2, maximum coliform count in sea water is 1600 MPN / 100 ml. The sediment samples at station 2 showed maximum total coliform counts [50 cfu / g]. The flesh of fin fish sample also showed invariably higher total coliform and fecal Streptococcus counts at station 2. The total coliform count of fish sample at both stations is recorded above the maximum permissible limit [5200 cfu /g]. Station 1 showed maximum Streptococcous aureus count in fish sample. Of the 2 stations studied, station 2 Sinthathirai matha kovil recorded maximum total coliform and faecel bacteria counts in water than the other station. Thus the results of present study is a preliminary account and it clearly indicates that a systematic study at these two important landing centres viz., Thirespuram and Sinthathirai matha kovil areas over the period of time during 2007-2008.

Keywords: Coliform, Streptococcus aureus, Tuticorin, Enumeration, Systematic study.