Comparison Of Antibiotic Resistance In Bacterial Flora Of Shrimp Farming Systems

Abstract

The antibiotic resistances among the bacterial flora of extensive, modified extensive and semi-intensive shrimp farming systems of West Bengal, India, which follow varied management practices were compared. The populations of bacteria isolated from semi-intensive shrimp farming system were comparatively more sensitive to antibiotics followed by modified extensive and extensive culture systems. About 38%, 20% and 22% of the bacterial isolates respectively from semi-intensive (n=141), modified extensive (n=186) and extensive (n=154) systems were sensitive to all the six antibiotics. There existed significant differences in multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) of the isolates from extensive (54.55) and semi-intensive (33.33%) systems, and modified extensive (52.69%) and semi-intensive systems. The variation in the bacterial resistance to different antibiotics observed among various shrimp culture systems of West Bengal was the reflection of varied management practices adopted. The observations on the antibiotic resistance did not indicate that the shrimp farm bacterial flora of certain culture systems in West Bengal is developing resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics.