PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ARTIFICIAL AQUACULTURE POND WATER AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR FISH HEALTH IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Physicochemical and Microbiological Evaluation of Artificial Aquaculture Pond Water and Its Implications for Fish Health in Anambra State, Nigeria were carried out. A total of three fish pond waters were sampled. The result of the physico-chemical properties of the water samples showed that dissolved oxygen, ranged from 35.60mg/l to 37.7mg/l, Biochemical Oxygen Demand BOD ranged from 4.60 to 6.30, Chemical Oxygen Demand 120 to 216, electrical conductivity, 473µ/cm to 1431.00µ/cm, total dissolved solids, 237mg/l to 715mg/l, turbidity values, 2.80 NTU to 5.50 NTU, sulphate 35.3mg/l to 48.5mg/l, total chloride 4,9985mg/l to 19.99mg/l, total hardness 95mg/l to 175mg/l, total acidity 75mg/l to 132mg/l, cadmium 0.08mg/l, copper 0.0013mg/l – 0.0022mg/l while lead pb and zinc Zn were not detected in all the samples. The total heterotrophic bacteria count was higher in the water sample gotten from Awka (3.63x10⁵)  than (1.7x10⁵ cfu/ml) in other water sample. The fungal count ranged between (1.9x10⁵ cfu/ml) in the water samples from Onitsha than (1.5x10⁵ cfu/ml) while the total coliform count was hihegr in water sample from Onitsha (1.5x10⁴ cfu/ml) than (1.0x10⁴ cfu/ml). The bacteria genera isolated from the ponds were Escherichia coli, Salmomella spp, Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp, Staphyloccuss aureus and Micrcoccus spp while the fungal species were also  isolated Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp, Peniccillum spp, Sceletrium roifin and Abida corynbifern. The study revealed that the ponds were grossly contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms which poses a risk to human health, thus of significant concerns. Some of the physicochemical, bacteriological and parasitological parameters had values above World Health Organization admissible limited and therefore proper sanitary practices and water treatments must be employed to prevent epidemic among fish consumers.