MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER DESORPTION IONIZATION-TIME OF FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETRY BASED IDENTIFICATION OF THE FISH GUT MICROBIOTA

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the composition of intestinal microflora of freshwater fish in Latvia. A total amount of 28 fish were collected from fishermen (n=20) and retail outlets (n=8), including roach Rutilus rutilus, n=15, crucian carp Carassius carassius, n=5, perch Perca fluvialitis, n=5, bream Blicca bjoerkna, n=3. Microbiological testing consisted of the detection of total viable count (TPC), Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms with subsequent identification with MALDI-TOF Biotyper. TPC, coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae counts ranged from 2.7±0.4 to 5.4±0.3, 2.4±1.5 to 3.7±0.7 and 2.00±1.2 to 3.7±2.5 log cfu/g in gut of wild crucian carp and retailed roach, wild perch and retailed roach, and crucian carp and bream, accordingly. The TPC, coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae counts were significantly higher in retailed fish than in wild fish gut samples (P≤0.05). Gut microbiota were represented by Proteobacteria (93.0%), Firmicutes (3.9%) and Ascomycota (3.1%). The most abundant families were Enterobacteriacea (50.8%) and Pseudomonadaceae (36.7%). Rahnella aquatilis, Serratia fonticola and Pantoe aagglomerans were the most abundant among Enterobacteriaceae while Pseudomonas extremorientalis and P. fragi among the Pseudomonadaceae. Results of the present study show that the gut of freshwater fish were mostly represented by Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae and the presence of fish bacterial pathogens must be considered.