MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND ANTIBACTERIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE OF VIBRO SPECIES FROM SELECTED SURFACE WATER IN ABALALIKI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EBONYI STATE, SOUTH-EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Vibrio species has been associated with infection of epidemic proportion This is further compounded with reports of multiple antibiotics resistance in Vibrio species. This study aims at isolating and identifying the pathogenic Vibrio species from selected surface water in Abakaliki. Three water samples were collected from three selected surface water sources. The temperature and pH were measured insitu. Twenty-four putative vibrio isolates were obtained from. Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salt Agar after a 24hrs growth in alkaline peptone water and subsequent tenfold dilution and identified using some specified biochemical test and further characterized based on susceptibility to twelve antibiotics. Isolates presumptive to be Vibrio parahaemolyticus was higher (8 (33.3%)) compared to V. mimicus (7 (29.17%)), V. alginolyticus (3 (25%)), V. vultinificus (2 (8.33%)) and V. cholerae (1 (4.17%)). Most Vibrio species isolated from all surface water samples had highest susceptibility to Gentamycin 21 (87.5%) with the least occurring in Ciprofloxain, 3 (12.5%) while high resistance occurred in Amoxicillin Clavulanic acid, Cefepime, Cotrimixazole, Meropenem and Tetracycline all having a 24 (100%) while the least was observed in Gentamycin with a frequency of 3 (12.5%). Findings of the Multiple Antibiotic resistance index which ranged from 0.60 to 0.90 indicates that the vibrio isolates originate from an environment with high contamination or antibiotics usage. This study shows the increase in multi-antibiotics resistance of Vibrio isolates in the wastewater sample rendering it polluted and unsafe for use.