Distribution characteristics of marine bacteria in the China seas / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the main species of marine bacteria and their distribution characteristics in China seas. Methods Seawater samples were obtained from sea water about one meter below the sea level along the navigation course, and then the bacteria therein were enriched, cultured, identified and tested for drug sensitivity. Results A total of 528 seawater samples were collected from four seas of China, and 759 marine bacteria in 145 species were isolated. The isolates were mainly Vibro, Enterobacteriaceae, Nonfermenter, Fungi, Pasteurella, Gram positive cocci, Eikenella corrodens and Anaerobic bacteria. Vibrio accounted for 52.9% of the 759 strains of marine bacteria, among which Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio fluvialis and Vibrio parahaemolyticus accounted for 75%. There was no significant difference in the quantity of Vibrio alginolyticus, Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus between the 4 sea areas (P=0.071). Chi-square test showed that significant differences existed in the distribution of seven species of marine bacteria among the 4 China seas (P=0.0004). The Gram-positive cocci were isolated more often in Bohai than from other seas; Eikenella corrodens were detected mostly in Yellow Sea; Vibrio were the predominant bacteria in East China sea, up to 70.8%; more Fungi were found in South China sea. The main features of specific bacteria isolated from the four sea areas was higher number of species with less quantity. From North to South, Enterococcus faecalis, Flavobacterium, Vibrio carchariae and C. famata were found to constitute the highest number. Conclusions In China seas, Vibrios are the dominant bacteria, and the numbers of Anaerobic bacteria and Gram-positive cocci are extremely low. There is a significant difference in the distribution of marine bacteria among 4 China seas.