Abstract

Objective: To screen the bioluminescent bacteria from Portunus pelagicus (P. pelagicus) at Thondi coast, Palk Strait, Bay of Bengal, India. Methods: Physico-chemical parameter including atmospheric and surfacewater temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen were analyzed. The population of bioluminescent bacterium was screened in ambient water and blue swimmer crab of P. pelagicus (muscle, gill, hemolymph, shell) and colony forming unit (CFU) was calculated. Result: Atmospheric and surface water temperatures varied from 26.1 and 27.3 °C to 33.4 and 32.6 °C, respectively; salinity varied from 28.4% to 34.3%, pH varied from 7.6 to 8.6, and dissolved oxygen varied from 4.8 to 6.9 O2 ml/l. In addition, the maximum CFU value was identified (12.63 x104 CFU/ml) during postmonsoon season and the minimum level (1.09 x104 CFU/ml) identified during summer season. Further, based on the phenotypic characterizations the isolated strain were identified as Vibrio harveyi (V. harveyi). Conclusions: It is concluded from that the incidence of V. harveyi infections was frequently identified with edible crab of P. pelagicus, throughout the study periods in different seasons.

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