Abstract
Bacterial flora and viable counts in the gills and the digestive tracts (stomach and intestine) of mudskipper fishes Boleophthalmus pectinirostris and Periophthalmus cantonensis and in mud of a mud flat were studied to discuss the primary factors which control the composition of bacterial flora in the digestive tracts.The flora was composed principally of Vibrio, coryneforms and others in the mud and the gills, and of Vibrio or coryneforms in the digestive tracts. The composition of flora in the stomach was similar to that in the intestine for P. cantonensis but not for B. pectinirostris. The counts in the stomach were much lower than that in the intestine for B. pectinirostris but could not recognize obvious difference between the two for P. cantonensis. The counts in the intestines of both the fishes were much higher in aerobic incubation than in anaerobic incubation and a large part of bacteria counted in aerobic incubation was Vibrio. The maximum count was in 100% sea water medium in the mud but in 50% sea water medium in the intestines, and a large part of bacteria accounted in both the samples was Vibrio. The counts in the digestive tracts were lower in autumn than in spring and summer in case of B. pectinirostris but almost equal for all seasons in case of P.cantonensis.From these facts it was presummed that the flora of the digestive tracts is influenced by bacteria from the mud, differing from the stage of progress of the stomach and from wintering season in the fishes, being controlled by salt concentration and oxygen tention of sea water to be supplied through “water-drinking” for osmoregulation.
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