Botanical Control of Multiple Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in Clarias gariepinus

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium which can cause opportunistic infections in fishes. Ethanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera was used in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected Clarias gariepinus for a period of 10 days. Pathogen-free Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (n=120) were randomly distributed into four different groups (A-D). Group A, Infected Clarias gariepinus without treatment; group B, Infected Clarias gariepinus treated with ciprofloxacin 250 mg/mL); group C, Infected Clarias gariepinus treated with 500 mg/L Moringa oleifera extract; and group D, Infected Clarias gariepinus treated with 1500 mg/L Moringa oleifera extract. A 0.1 mL aliquot of 7.2×105 CFU/mL of Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture was intra-peritoneally injected into the body of the fingerlings to induce infection. The gill of fish was excised, homogenized and centrifuged to ascertain oxidative stress, while histological examination followed thereafter. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the ethanol extract was 125 mg/mL while the minimum bactericidal concentration was at 500 mg/mL. Gross morphology examination showed hemorrhage in the gill and mouth, and swollen abdomen, after 72 h of infection. The weight of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected Clarias gariepinus before and after treatment showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) among the groups. There was significant (p<0.05) reduction in oxidative stress parameters examined. Histopathological changes noticed were minor hemorrhage epitheliocystis and damaged gill lamella. Total bacterial count showed a reduction in the Pseudomonas load in groups C and D over the period of study thus, indicating strong potentials of Moringa oleifera in the control of fish Pseudomonas infection.