Controlling Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in Oreochromis niloticus spawners by cefotaxime sodium

Spawners are considered the cornerstone in aquaculture; bacterial diseases are one of the most serious challenges facing this sector. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of cefotaxime in treating the experimentally infected Oreochromis niloticus brooders with virulent Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fish were grouped into normal group (N), infected non-treated group (INT) and infected-cefotaxime treated groups (ICT-W, ICT-24 & ICT-72) that administrated cefotaxime at 10 mg/l, and 10 mg/kg BW, administrated intraperitoneally at 24 h and 72 h intervals. Serum biochemical parameters, histopathological findings and cefotaxime concentration were studied in different groups. Tested P. aeruginosa was highly sensitive to cefotaxime with MIC equals 0.5 mu g/ml and LD50 for O. niloticus was 0.2 ml of 8 x 107 CFU.fish(-1). Mortality percent were 0, 50, 6.66, 23.33 and 13.33% for (N, INT, ICT-W, ICT-24 & ICT-72) respectively. There was significant amelioration in the serum biochemical parameter values (AST, ALT, creatinine, urea, uric acid and serum proteins) of all treated groups in comparison with the INT group, histopathological findings represented a marked improvement in hepatopancreas and posterior kidney tissues architecture when compared with (INT). Serum cefotaxime level were 0.517 +/- 0.23, 0.951 +/- 0.34 and 0.589 +/- 0.18 mu g/ml while, cefotaxime residues were 1.086 +/- 0.12, 1.670 +/- 0.36 and 1.261 +/- 0.37 mu g/g in muscular tissue for (ICT-W, ICT-24 & ICT-72) groups respectively. Cefotaxime considered effective antibiotic in the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection in O. niloticus brooders when administrated as 10 mg/litter medicated water or 10 mg/kg B.W. by I/P administration at 72 h interval.

Automated summary

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of cefotaxime in treating Oreochromis niloticus brooders infected with virulent Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which showed high sensitivity to cefotaxime. The treated groups showed significant improvement in serum biochemical parameters and histopathological findings, with measured levels of cefotaxime in the fish's system and tissue residues.