Enzyme producing bacterial flora isolated from fish digestive tracts

TLDR: The study indicates that there is a distinct microbial source of the digestiveenzymes – amylase, cellulase, lipase and protease, apart from endogenoussources in fish gut, that might contribute towards better feed formulations for carp at low cost, incorporating the enzyme producing bacterial isolates as probiotics.

Abstract: Isolationand enumeration of aerobic bacterial flora in the gastrointestinal tract of nineculturable freshwater teleosts, namely catla, rohu, mrigal, silver carp, grasscarp, common carp, tilapia, walking catfish and murrel have been carried outAmylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic and proteolytic microflora were identifiedfrom the culture plate using selective media The isolates were qualitativelyscreened on the basis of their extracellular enzyme producing ability Theselected strains were further quantitatively assayed for amylase, cellulase,lipase and protease activities Protease activity was exhibited by almost allthe bacterial isolates, while strains isolated from tilapia, grass carp andcommon carp showed considerable amylolytic and cellulolytic activities Maximumactivity of lipase was exhibited by a strain isolated from silver carp Thestudy indicates that there is a distinct microbial source of the digestiveenzymes – amylase, cellulase, lipase and protease, apart from endogenoussources in fish gut The information generated from the present investigationmight contribute towards better feed formulations for carp at low cost,incorporating the enzyme producing bacterial isolates as probiotics