Abstract
Background and Aim:Shewanella algae is ubiquitous in marine-associated environments and has been increasingly recognized as a significant human pathogen that can cause serious infections mainly associated with exposure to seawater and ingestion of raw seafood. This study aimed to isolate and characterize S. algae from ballast water of ships berthed at Port Klang, Malaysia.Materials and Methods:Ballast water was sampled from nine ships docked at Port Klang, Malaysia. The isolates were identified and characterized based on biochemical and enzymatic properties, 16S rRNA and gyrB sequencing, biofilm formation capability, and antibiotic susceptibility.Results:A total of four S. algae isolates were isolated from four ballast water samples tentatively name Sa-BW1, Sa-BW2, Sa-BW7, and Sa-BW8. All isolates showed positive reaction for cytochrome oxidase, catalase, high tolerance to NaCl (6% and 8%), ability to grow at 42°C, and on Salmonella-Shigella agar. The strains also exhibited b-hemolytic activity on sheep blood and human blood agar, positive reaction for lipase, protease, DNase and gelatinase, strong biofilm adherence capabilities and multiple antibiotic resistances against ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, colistin, novobiocin, oxacillin, penicillin, rifampicin, and tobramycin which suggested their potential pathogenicity.Conclusion:This study demonstrated the occurrence of putative pathogen S. algae in ballast water of ships docked at Malaysian port.
Highlights
Ships carry ballast water to control their stability and trim at the start of the voyage
This study demonstrated the occurrence of putative pathogen S. algae in ballast water of ships docked at Malaysian port
Additional phenotypic characteristics such as the ability to grow at 42°C, tolerance to high salt concentration (6-8%), and hemolysis on sheep blood agar distinguished the S. algae isolates from other species such as S. putrefaciens, S. haliotis and S. xiamenensis as described in the previous study [44]
Summary
Ships carry ballast water to control their stability and trim at the start of the voyage. The global distribution of pathogenic bacteria implicates a negative effect on the existing ecosystem as well as marine animal and human health. The concern about the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacteria through ballast water began in 1992, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the USA detected Vibrio cholerae in shellfish collected from ballast tanks of cargo ships. This study aimed to isolate and characterize S. algae from ballast water of ships berthed at Port Klang, Malaysia
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