International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278-3202 9 3 2020 08 10 Isolation, characterization and antibiotic resistance profile of bacteria from the Gut of African Catfish; Clarias garieprinus 1 6 EN R Akaniro Ifunanya 1 Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria H Anumudu Obinna 2 Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria N Ofonegbu Mercy 3 Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria P Nebo Aisha 4 Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria > 2019 10 3 2020 08 10 Clarias garieprinus gut is not a sterile environment as it contains hosts of microbial flora. Though beneficial, some of these microorganisms can be pathogenic and resistant to therapeutic agents which increase fish mortality with unpredicted long term effect on public health. This study was conducted to determine if bacterial species can be isolated from the gut of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus and also to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates. Five fish farms were selected for this study and a total of 22 samples (composite samples) were obtained; catfish guts were used as test samples while fishpond water served as control. Standard APHA methods were used to isolate and characterize the bacterial isolates present in the samples. Also, Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine their antibiotic resistance pattern. Results indicated that all the samples (test and control) contained bacterial species, though the test samples had less microflora than control. In all, 126 isolates were obtained and through series of biochemical characterization, 50 isolates belonging to six bacteria genera; Escherichia, Bacillus, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were identified. Bacillus spp were the most occurring isolate (2% occurrence) while Shigella spp were the least with only 8% occurrence. The isolates showed varying degree of resistance to the test antibiotics. However, with the exception of Shigella spp, all the isolates were highly resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamthoxazole but highly susceptible to roceptrin, ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin. From this study, it can be concluded that Clarias garieprinus gut harbours microorganisms some of which are antibiotic resistant and can pose serious problems in the management of fish diseases. Copyright@ International Science Community Association