Antimicrobial Activity of Macrotermes-Derived Eluates against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Species: Implications for Aquaculture Disease Management

Authors

  • M. A. Idigo Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • I. H. Iheukwumere Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • C. M. Iheukwumere Department of Applied Microbiology & Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria.
  • B. C. Nnaeze Department of Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
  • C. J. Akulue Department of Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
  • N. E. Nwakoby Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • J. N. Ezendianefor Department of Microbiology, Tansian Universiy, Umunya, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • V. E. Ike Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • A. O. Nnaedozie Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • S. N. Ezekwueche Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • I. S. Anagor Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
  • C. C. Aniekwe Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
  • F. C. Ezeoke Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • F. O. Okereke Department of Biological Sciences (Microbiology), Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Spiritan University, Nneochi, Abia State, Nigeria.
  • S. C. Ochibulu Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54117/jafts.v2i2.109

Keywords:

Macrotermes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Multidrug resistance, Antimicrobial, Eluates

Abstract

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas species in aquaculture environments poses a significant risk to both animal and public health. This study investigates the potential of chemical eluates derived from Macrotermes species as an alternative source of antimicrobial agents against MDR Pseudomonas isolated from a fish pond. A total of 100 water samples were collected from different fish ponds and screened for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using standard microbiological techniques. Eluate from Macrotermes species was obtained using solvent extraction and chromatographic techniques. Agar-well technique was employed in assessing the inhibitory activity of the eluates against the test isolates. The study revealed the inhibitory activity of solvent eluates from Macrotermes species against three multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (PA03, PA065, and PA076) from fish ponds. The isolates exhibited high levels of multidrug resistance, with PA076 being the most resistant strain (75.00%), followed by PA065 (71.43%) and PA03 (66.67%). In contrast, antibiotic susceptibility profiling showed PA065 (61.11%) was the most susceptible to conventional drugs, followed by PA03 (53.85%) and PA076 (50.00%). The bioassay of the Macrotermes eluates revealed significant (p<0.05), strain-dependent inhibitory activity, with the strongest effect observed against isolate PA076 (zone of inhibition: 20.5 ± 1.2 mm), followed by PA065 (18.2 ± 0.9 mm) and PA03 (16.5 ± 1.1 mm). The study concluded that eluates from Macrotermes species exhibit significant inhibitory activity against environmental MDR Pseudomonas isolates, highlighting their potential as alternative antimicrobial agents.

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Published

2025-11-18

How to Cite

Idigo, M. A., Iheukwumere, I. H., Iheukwumere, C. M., Nnaeze, B. C., Akulue, C. J., Nwakoby, N. E., Ezendianefor, J. N., Ike, V. E., Nnaedozie, A. O., Ezekwueche, S. N., Anagor, I. S., Aniekwe, C. C., Ezeoke, F. C., Okereke, F. O., & Ochibulu, S. C. (2025). Antimicrobial Activity of Macrotermes-Derived Eluates against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Species: Implications for Aquaculture Disease Management. Journal of Agriculture, Food Technology and Sustainability, 2(2), 102–111. https://doi.org/10.54117/jafts.v2i2.109

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): Volume

Section

Articles