Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2016; 5(5): 202-206 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/aff doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20160505.19 ISSN:2328-563X (Print); ISSN:2328-5648 (Online) Bacteriological Quality of Tilapia Fish from Treated Wastewater in Peri-Urban Areas, Morogoro, Tanzania Ofred Jonas Mhongole 1, * , Robinson Hammerthon Mdegela 1 , Lughano Jeromey Moses Kusiluka 1, 2 , Anders Dalsgaard 3 1 Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania 2 Office of the Vice Chancellor, Mzumbe University, Morogoro, Tanzania 3 Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Copenhagen University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark Email address: ofredjonas@gmail.com (O. J. Mhongole), ojmmhongole@yahoo.co.uk (O. J. Mhongole) * Corresponding author To cite this article: Ofred Jonas Mhongole, Robinson Hammerthon Mdegela, Lughano Jeromey Moses Kusiluka, Anders Dalsgaard. Bacteriological Quality of Tilapia Fish from Treated Wastewater in Peri-Urban Areas, Morogoro, Tanzania. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Vol. 5, No. 5, 2016, pp. 202-206. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20160505.19 Received: August 16, 2016; Accepted: September 5, 2016; Published: October 6, 2016 Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess faecal bacterial contamination in tilapia fish from wastewater treatment ponds at Mzumbe and in pristine water in Mindu dam. Tilapia fish (fish flesh and fish intestines) and water samples were analysed for Escherichia coli and total plate count. The concentration of E. coli in fish intestines ranged from about 1 - 3.5 log cfu/g and <1 log cfu/g in fish flesh. Total plate count ranged from 1 – 3 log cfu/g in fish flesh and 2 – 6 log cfu/g in fish intestines. The concentration of E. coli in pristine water in Mindu dam ranged from 0 to 15 cfu/mL. From the inlet to outlet of Mzumbe wastewater treatment pond, there was a significant reduction (p<0.05) of E. coli concentration along the gradient from 2.05 to 0.55 log cfu/mL, respectively. These findings demonstrated that tilapia fish from the two study sites were of good quality for human consumption based on microbial faecal contamination. On the other hand treated wastewater of the quality found in this study may be used for aquaculture. However, continuous monitoring for bacteriological quality and safety parameters including E. coli and total plate count is required. Keywords: Escherichia coli, Fish Culture, Fish Flesh, Fish Intestines, Water 1. Introduction The tilapia fish such as Oreochromis niloticus, is one of tropical species that inhabits in shallow water within temperature range of 11°C to 42°C [1]. Tilapia fish feeds on phytoplankton, periphyton, aquatic plants, small invertebrates, benthic fauna, detritus and bacterial films associated with detritus [1, 2]. Worldwide, wastewater has been used in aquaculture farming though in most of Sub- Sahara African countries including Tanzania, there are no policies and data to support wastewater fed aquaculture [3– 5]. The driving forces to grow fish in wastewater and utilize them include the economical, scarcity of clean water and limited land for fish culture. Others include urbanization and population increase; and low cost or free available wastewater resource [6, 7]. In tropical countries both forms of economic and physical water scarcity predominates depending on hydrologic conditions [8]. Not only that, but also, predominantly, stable surface water supply is during wet season and decreases during dry season [9]. Use of treated wastewater allows a constant supply of water in year round. The management of wastewater is important for sustainable development of aquatic resources in the world [10]. Wastewater or other low quality water sources - fed fish culture is among the productive sectors that enhances better nutrition and improves household food security and income generation [1]. It has been estimated by FAO that about 1 billion people rely on fish as source of protein [7]. Moreover, fish are rich source of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as minerals and vitamins [11]. Wastewater fed fish-culture may contain excreta related bacterial hazards which may lead to diseases such as