a b s t r a c t
Article history:
Received 28 November 2014
Received in revised form 3 December 2014
Accepted 5 December 2014
Available online 12 December 2014
Keywords:
Oreochromis mossambicus
Natural infection
Citrobactor freundii
Medicinal plants
Plant extracts
16s rRNA sequencing
Aquaculture healthmanagement demands a constant growth in the production by stabilizing economic loss and
implementing various natural plant-based bio products for treating pathogenic bacteria. Pathogenic effects of the
Citrobacter freundii isolated from fingerlings of Tilapia collected from a fish farm showed symptoms like tail
necrosis, septicemia, hemorrhage, and reddening of the body. Antibacterial activity of C. freundii was tested
against various medicinal plants. Of the three plants screened, Azadirachta indica (Neem) showed good antibacterial
activity against C. freundii. The present study revealed that A. indica plant extract at a concentration of
150mg/l in vivo can be used as an alternative to antibiotics for treating this bacterial infection. The use of medicinal
plant extract-mediated treatment was found to be very effective in controlling this bacterial infection.
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