PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC IDENTIFICATION OF VIBRIO SPECIES ISOLATED FROM SELECTED SURFACE WATER IN OKITIPUPA AREA

Vibrio are gram negative curved bacteria commonly found in aquatic environments. Some species are pathogenic to humans as well as to aquatic animals and have been associated with serious public health complications in their hosts. The aim of this study was to determine the phenotypic and genotypic isolation of this study. The methods used in this study entails some certain processes. Ten water samples were collected comprising of both upstream and downstream from Okitipupa river for over five week. These samples were collected using sterile sample bottles, and transported to the laboratory using a box containing ice packs. These water samples were enriched in peptone water and incubated at 37°C overnight. The pre-enriched samples were serially diluted and about 0.1ml of the appropriate diluents were inoculated on Thiosulfatecitrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar plates and incubated at 37°C for 24-48 hours. After incubation, 3-5 colonies were sub cultured from each plate, purified on nutrient agar, stocked on nutrient agar slant, and stored in refrigerator for further studies. The selected isolates were subjected to biochemical tests such as gram staining, and catalase test, and screened for antibiotic susceptibility profile. A total of 7 Vibrio isolates were recovered from samples collected. and tested for antibiotics susceptibility profile. Antibiotics resistant profile exhibited by the resistant Vibrio isolates is as follows: Vancomycin (100%), Cefuroxime (85.7%), Ceftazidime (100%), Ciprofloxacin (85.7%), Ceftriaxone (71.4%), Gentamicin (71.4%), Chloramphenicol (71.4%), Amikacin (42.9%), Cotrimoxazole (28.6%), and Meropenem (14.3%). However, some bacteria isolates did not show any resistance Tetracycline (0%), Cefotaxime (0%). The occurrence of multiple antibiotic resistant Vibrio species found in the may pose a potential health risk to human and animal if water is ingested without treatment.