Identification of Bacterial Species from Injured Cuticle of Mud Crab, Scylla serrata

Crustacean aquaculture production is one of the major economic activities worldwide with prime importance in the developing countries. Infectious diseases from viral, bacterial, and in some cases, fungal origin affecting the crustacean aquaculture production due to intensification of farming activities. The microbial population of 11 x 10-5 to 215 x 10-3 CFU were observed in the scraps of naturally injured/wounded cuticle of mud crab, Scylla serrata. Three predominant bacterial species were identified including Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the scraps based on the series of biochemical analysis as well 16s rDNA sequence analysis. These findings may provide the baseline to reveal the pathogenecity of host specific and invading pathogenic bacteria in the cultivable crustaceans.