Crayfish, lobster, and sea-water samples collected from five fishing
islands on the Atlantic coast–Bight of Biafra
(Bonny)–belonging to Ibaka Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom
State of Nigeria were bacteriologically evaluated on thiosulphate
citrate bile-salt sucrose (TCBS) agar for Vibrio load and pathotypes.
Mean log10 Vibrio counts of 7.64±2.78 cfu/g (in crayfish),
5.07±3.21 cfu/g (in lobster), and 3.06±2.27 cfu/mL (in
sea-water) were obtained in rainy season (June-July) while counts in
the dry season (November-December) were 6.25±1.93 cfu/g,
5.99±1.54 cfu/g, and 3.84±1.78 cfu/mL respectively. The
physicochemical measurements (temperature, pH, and total dissolved
solutes) of the sea-water did not vary significantly in the two seasons
across all five islands. Vibrio species isolated were Vibrio cholerae
(both O1 and non-O1 serotypes), V. parahaemolyticus , V. vulnificus ,
V. mimicus , and V. fluvialis . Both Ogawa and Inaba subtypes of V.
cholerae O1 serotype were found. In addition, the Hikojima subtype,
which had not been previously reported in the region, was isolated in
two samples. The results show that these Vibrio species are endemic in
the area