Summary OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES To identify the micro¯ora in the gallbladder of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones, and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates, as well as the usefulness of Gram staining of bile at the time of operation. METHODS METHODS Bile samples were obtained from 112 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones and inoculated directly into aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles in the operating theatre. Samples were also collected in sterile universal containers for Gram staining of a centrifuged deposit. Isolates were identi®ed and their in-vitro susceptibilities determined by Kirby Bauer technique. RESULTS RESULTSOf 112 bile samples examined, 28 (25%) were culture positive, four of which contained more than one organism. The most common organisms isolated were Escherichia coli 9 (28.1%), Enterococcus faecalis 5 (15.6%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3 (9.4%). In one sample we found Aeromonas hydrophilia and Enterobacter cloacae. No anaerobes were detected but Candida albicans was isolated in one case. In 19 bile samples (67.8%) organisms were identi®ed on Gram stain. Positive bile cultures were found statistically signi®cant (P < 0.05) in patients over the age of 50 (13/32), in patients who developed post-operative fever (6/12) and patients who developed leucocytosis (5/6). CONCLUSIO N CONCLUSION Age over 50 years was the only signi®cant pre-operative factor associated with positive bile cultures (P < 0.05). In view of the micro¯ora of the gallbladder and the susceptibility pattern of our isolates we would suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis recommended for laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones needs to be reviewed and the role of bacteribilia in the surgical management of cholelithiasis requires further study.

With the significant increases in the human population, global aquaculture has undergone a great increase during the last decade. The management of optimum conditions for fish production, which are entirely based on the physicochemical and biological qualities of water, plays a vital role in the prompt aquaculture growth. Therefore, focusing on research that highlights the understanding of water quality and breeding systems’ stability is very important. The biofloc technology (BFT) is a system that maximizes aquaculture productivity by using microbial biotechnology to increase the efficacy and utilization of fish feeds, where toxic materials such as nitrogen components are treated and converted to a useful product, like a protein for using as supplementary feeds to the fish and crustaceans. Thus, biofloc is an excellent technology used to develop the aquaculture system under limited or zero water exchange with high fish stocking density, strong aeration, and biota. This review is highlighted on biofloc composition and mechanism of system work, especially the optimization of water quality and treatment of ammonium wastes. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of the BFT system have been explained. Finally, the importance of contemporary research on biofloc systems as a figure of microbial biotechnology has been emphasized with arguments for developing this system for better production of aquaculture with limited natural resources of water.

Finfish aquaculture is one of the quickly developing food industries in the world. But, the major drawbacks of this industry are the frequent outbreak of infectious diseases due to elevated stress in an intensive culture system. Antibiotics are extensively used to combat these diseases. Prophylactic administrations of antibiotics in aquaculture lead to the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens which indirectly cause a risk to health of human. Therefore, hard rules and regulations have been established in various countries to minimize or ban the application of antibiotics in finfish aquaculture. Recently probiotics have garnered significant attraction as an alternative measure for disease prevention in aquaculture. Probiotics increase health status, disease resistance, growth performance and feed utilization through improving hosts microbial balance. This review presents the summary and discussion of the results of the effects of probiotic administration in the culture of commercially important finfish. Besides, the current study attempts to explore the gap in present scientific information as well as suggests concerns that worth further research.

Materials and methods Design of experimentThe experiment was conducted in 6 high density polyethylene (HDPE) lined ponds (300 m 2 ) at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) Fish Farm, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Obhur, Jeddah for a period of 96 days. Semi-intensive type of culture method was followed for rearing shrimp. Both control and treatment experimental ponds were triplicated. All ponds were sundried and limed ABSTRACT A study was conducted to assess the efficiency of green water culture strategy for production of Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in high density polyethylene (HDPE) lined ponds (300 m 2 ) for a period of 96 days. Green water from a broodstock fish pond was used for rearing shrimp in treatment ponds; whereas, filtered seawater was used for growing shrimp in control ponds, with both treatment and control in triplicates. Shrimp juveniles (specific pathogen free, SPF) of uniform size (1.74±0.46 g) were stocked at the rate of 100 nos. m -2 per pond. Feeding, water exchange, sampling and water quality analysis were done as per standard shrimp growout procedure. Shrimp health status and microbial load in culture ponds were recorded periodically. Water quality parameters did not show significant variations between control and treatment ponds. Enhanced growth, survival (19.7%) and biomass (23.3%) were observed in treatment ponds when compared to control. Significant reduction in bacterial population and improved shrimp health status were also noticed in treatment ponds. Green water culture technique reduced harmful bacterial population in culture ponds and enhanced shrimp growth, survival, health and production.