Detection of Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacter and Klebsiella Bacteria in Dry Fish Collected from Chalan Beel Region, Bangladesh

Abstract

Dried fish is valued worldwide for its portability and long shelf life, making it an essential source of protein. In this study, dried fish samples from the Chalan Beel region of Bangladesh, were analyzed to investigate the presence of bacteria and their resistance to multiple antibiotics. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing identified specific bacterial species. This study revealed a worrying trend of antibiotic resistance among bacteria isolated from dried fish samples. All tested antibiotics showed significant resistance, with sulfadiazine-trimethoprim showing the highest resistance rate (85.29%) and ciprofloxacin the lowest (45.58%). Among other antibiotics, gentamicin (82.35%), oxytetracycline (80.88%), azithromycin (73.52%), erythromycin (72.05%), kanamycin (72.05%) and amoxicillin (69.11%) showed significant resistance. Alarmingly, nearly 19.11% of bacterial isolates were resistant to all tested antibiotics. Molecular identification revealed a high diversity of bacterial communities in the dried fish samples. The study identified 30 isolates belonging to 10 genera, with Enterobacter (11 species) and Klebsiella (8 species) being the most prevalent, followed by Bacillus (3 species), Proteus (2 species), and other genera (6 species). This study thus identified concerning antibiotic resistance among various bacteria present in dried fish from Bangladesh, highlighting the potential risks to public health.

J. Bio-Sci. 33(2): 11-20, 2025