1Division of Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary Medicine Study Program, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FIKKIA), Universitas Airlangga, Giri Campus, Wijaya Kusuma Street 113, Banyuwangi, East Java Province, 68425, Indonesia
2Research Group for Animal Biomedical and Conservation, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
3Research Group for Sustainability Aquaculture and Environment, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
4Tropical Futures Institute (TFI), James Cook University Singapore, 149 Sims Drive, 387380, Singapore
*Corresponding Author: Prima Ayu Wibawati, Division of Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary Medicine Study Program, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FIKKIA), Universitas Airlangga, Giri Campus, Wijaya Kusuma Street 113, Banyuwangi, East Java Province, 68425, Indonesia, Email: primaayuwibawati@fkh.unair.ac.id
Online published on 21 November, 2025.
This study seeks to evaluate the resistance profiles of P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris in isolates from African catfish in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia.
A total of 74 African catfish samples were procured from 12 distinct aquaculture ponds in Banyuwangi. The catfish were intentionally selected from tarpaulin and cement ponds. The samples were categorized into two groups: G1, comprising African catfish with clinical evidence of hemorrhage and superficial ulceration and G2, consisting of those without apparent clinical symptoms. Water quality assessments were performed for each pond. Following this, P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris were isolated and identified from liver and skin samples utilizing MCA media, followed by Gram staining and biochemical assays. The identified bacterial isolates were sensitivity tested for beta-lactam and non-beta-lactam resistance.
The findings indicated that P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris were present in African catfish, with prevalence rates of 4.05% (3/74) and 10.81% (8/74), respectively. P. mirabilis exhibited extremely high resistance rates against beta-lactams antibiotics Cefadroxil, Ampicillin, Penicillin and Oxacillin, with very high resistance to non-beta-lactam antibiotic Erythromycin (66.7%). P. vulgaris showed extremely high resistance to beta-lactams antibiotics Penicillin and Oxacillin and very high resistance to Cefadroxil and non-beta-lactam Erythromycin (both at 62.5%), Streptomycin (50%) and Cefixime (25%). The factor influencing the presence of P. vulgaris in African catfish is the type of pond (p= 0.044). It can be concluded that the beta-lactam antibiotics exhibit the highest and most prevalent resistance on Proteus spp. isolates. Additionally, resistance to other non-beta-lactam antibiotics is also observed. Greater caution should be exercised in the administration of antibiotics in aquaculture facilities to safeguard public health.
African catfish, Antibiotic resistance, Pond, Proteus spp, Public health
