Journal of Environmental Biology

Studies on water quality and pathogenic bacteria

in coastal water Langkawi, Malaysia

Author Details

K.C.A. Jalal

(Corresponding author)

Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia,

Bandar Indera Mahkota - 25200, Malaysia

e-mail: dhaka89@hotmail.com

H.N. Noor Faizul

Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar

Indera Mahkota - 25200, Malaysia

M. Azrul Naim

Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar

Indera Mahkota - 25200, Malaysia

B. Akbar John

Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar

Indera Mahkota - 25200, Malaysia

B.Y. Kamaruzzaman

Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar

Indera Mahkota - 25200, Malaysia

Publication Data

Paper received:

01 May 2010

Revised received:

02 December 2010

Accepted:

06 August 2011

Abstract

A study on physico-chemical parameters and pathogenic bacterial community was carried out at the coastal waters of Pulau Tuba island, Langkawi. The physico-chemical parameters such as temperature (27.43-28.88^oC), dissolved oxygen (3.79-6.49 mg l^-1), pH (7.72-8.20), salinity (33.10-33.96 ppt), total dissolved solids (32.27-32.77 g l^-1) and specific conductivity (49.83-51.63 mS cm^-1) were observed. Station 3 and station 4 showed highest amount of nitrates (26.93 and 14.61 ?g at N l^-1) than station 1 (2.04 ?g at N l^-1) and station 2 (4.18 ?g at N l^-1). The highest concentration (12.4? ?g l^-1) of chlorophyll a was observed in station 4 in October 2005. High phosphorus content (561mg P l^-1) was found in the station 2. Thirteen bacterial isolates were successfully identified using API 20E system. The highest amount of bacteria was observed at Station 4 (3400 CFU ml^-1) and the lowest number was at Station 2 (890 CFU ml^-1). Out of identified 13 Gram-negative bacterial isolates dominant species were Aeromonas hydrophila, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas baumannii, Vibrio vulnificus, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia alcalifaciens and Serratia liquefaciens. Apart from this, oil biodegrading Pseudomonas putida were also identified. The study reveals the existing status of water quality is still conducive and the reasonably diverse with Gram-negative bacteria along the Pulau Tuba Langkawi. ?

Key words

Coastal waters, Pathogenic bacteria, Bacterial community, Colony forming unit?

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