Occurrence and Distribution of Clostridium perferingens in Relation to Conventional Faecal Indicator Bacterial in Shrimp Farm

Biomonitors indicate the microbiological quality of water. Though E. coli is a microbiological indicator, it cannot be considered as a perfect one. In this regard, attempts for finding a new indicator of faecal pollution in place of E. coli was carried out by performing a comparative study between E. coli and Clostridium perfringens as faecal indicator in shrimp farms. The presence of these organisms was determined by evaluating the brackish water and shrimp samples from various areas of Cochin, using MPN technique. The effect of disinfectant chlorine was examined over these organisms which revealed the sensitive nature of E. coli. Clostridium perfringens was found to be highly resistant in comparison with E. coli and thus suggesting it as a better indicator of faecal contamination in brackish water to evaluate the microbial quality of shrimp farms than E. coli.