Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize antibiotic resistance in Gramnegative bacteria isolated from marine fishes with different ecological habitats (Sardina
pilchardus, Mullus surmuletus and Mugil cephalus), captured in the Bay of Algiers.
The study of antibiotic resistance in bacteria of the total flora revealed the presence of
fairly high resistance levels for amoxicillin, followed by cephalosporins, 3rd generation
followed by ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. Low levels were observed for imipenem and
gentamicin. Furthermore, the results obtained in coliforms showed the presence of a high
resistance to amoxicillin and sensitivity to other molecules with the exception of coliforms
isolated from M. cephalus, which showed average resistance levels to Imipenem,
gentamicin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, Although, we noted some differences in the
resistance rates obtained in each fish, statistical analysis revealed that there is no
significant difference between these resistance rates depending on the ecological habitats
of the different fish.
The identification of 62 resistant strains belonged to Enterobactereaceae,
Aeromonadaceae, Vibrionaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. These strains showed high
incidence of resistance to amoxicillin, ceftazidime and cefoxitin, mean incidence for
tetracycline, piperacillin, nalidixic acid and low levels for gentamicin, amikacin and
kanamycin.
These strains showed multi-resistance profiles ranging from 2 to 11 antibiotics. The
genetic characterization of the enzymatic mechanisms of beta-lactam resistance detected
the presence of the non-transferable beta-lactamase, bla CTX-M gene group 1 in a K.
pneumoniae isolated from M.céphalus, gene bla TEM in 4 E.coli and 1 R. aqualitis and 1 K.
pneumoniae, the bla SHV gene in 2 K. pneumoniae and the bla CIT cephalosporinase gene in 2
C. freundii.
These results suggest that commercial marine fish cath in the Bay of Algiers might play a
role as carrier/reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacteria, creating a health risk to public
health for fish consumers.
Key words : Antibiotic resistance, bacteria, marine fish, antibiotic resistance genes,
The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize antibiotic resistance in Gramnegative bacteria isolated from marine fishes with different ecological habitats (Sardina
pilchardus, Mullus surmuletus and Mugil cephalus), captured in the Bay of Algiers.
The study of antibiotic resistance in bacteria of the total flora revealed the presence of
fairly high resistance levels for amoxicillin, followed by cephalosporins, 3rd generation
followed by ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. Low levels were observed for imipenem and
gentamicin. Furthermore, the results obtained in coliforms showed the presence of a high
resistance to amoxicillin and sensitivity to other molecules with the exception of coliforms
isolated from M. cephalus, which showed average resistance levels to Imipenem,
gentamicin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, Although, we noted some differences in the
resistance rates obtained in each fish, statistical analysis revealed that there is no
significant difference between these resistance rates depending on the ecological habitats
of the different fish.
The identification of 62 resistant strains belonged to Enterobactereaceae,
Aeromonadaceae, Vibrionaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. These strains showed high
incidence of resistance to amoxicillin, ceftazidime and cefoxitin, mean incidence for
tetracycline, piperacillin, nalidixic acid and low levels for gentamicin, amikacin and
kanamycin.
These strains showed multi-resistance profiles ranging from 2 to 11 antibiotics. The
genetic characterization of the enzymatic mechanisms of beta-lactam resistance detected
the presence of the non-transferable beta-lactamase, bla CTX-M gene group 1 in a K.
pneumoniae isolated from M.céphalus, gene bla TEM in 4 E.coli and 1 R. aqualitis and 1 K.
pneumoniae, the bla SHV gene in 2 K. pneumoniae and the bla CIT cephalosporinase gene in 2
C. freundii.
These results suggest that commercial marine fish cath in the Bay of Algiers might play a
role as carrier/reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacteria, creating a health risk to public
health for fish consumers.
Key words : Antibiotic resistance, bacteria, marine fish, antibiotic resistance genes,