The significance of pathogenic bacteria in the gut of swimming crab, Callinectes sp. obtained from Lagos lagoon and market samples stored at freezer temperature (0°C).

4 Abstract: An investigation was conducted to isolate and characterize pathogenic bacteria in the gut of swimming crab (Callinectes) obtained from Lagos lagoon (28±2 C) and market frozen samples (0 C). The o o 10 supplemented with sheep red blood cells, most isolates except few were s- and α-haemolytic, demonstrating that they could be pathogenic strains. The degree of haemolysis were Bacillus cereus 34 (76%), Escherichia coli 46 (78%), Salmonella sp 33 (76.7%), Vibrio parahaemolyticus 40 (93%), Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were more haemolytic than Micrococcus sp, Streptococcus agalactiae and Proteus vulgaris. The occurrence of these pathogens in the swimming crab is o f epidemiological and health significance.