Screening of protease producing bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study was designed to identify and characterize protease-producing bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) that optimizes feed utilization in the aquaculture system. For this purpose, a diverse collection of bacteria was isolated from different segments of GIT of the Nile tilapia. The isolated bacteria were screened for their ability to produce proteases, enzymes essential for the digestion of dietary proteins. In this study, approximately 60 samples of the Nile tilapia were used to analyze the bacterial species residing in the intestinal segments using culture techniques. The results showed that bacterial populations in different segments of the intestine, when cultured on skim milk agar, showed significant results (P < 0.05) for screening of protease-producing bacteria. From this study, it was concluded that the protease-producing bacteria present in the gut of the Nile tilapia have a significant impact on fish digestion and health. Our findings suggest that protease-producing bacteria present in GIT of the Nile tilapia, provide a valuable insight into the implications of fish aquaculture practices.