Studies on Diversity of Bacterial Diseases and Occupational Risks through Mudcrab Aquaculture in West Bengal

Abstract

In West Bengal, the two most tradable species of mud crab (Scylla sp.) are available due to high market demand in local as well as foreign markets. Scylla sp. is an important (ecological, nutritional, and economical) bioresource in India including West Bengal. Juveniles and adult mud crabs are selectively collected by coastal area common people or fisherpersons for culturing in ponds and crabs are traded locally or internationally. Different coastal districts’ people of West Bengal, mainly North-24 Parganas, South-24 Parganas, and Midnapur are inextricably linked to the crab as being culture that serves as their alternative occupation/livelihood. Various bacteria are recorded as related to mud crab as being infections. Some of the bacteria may transmit from mud crabs to humans and cause mainly gastric-related diseases and septicemia by the transmission of virulent genes and microbes from unsafe water to the crab and then to humans. Such pathogenic infections like vibriosis without proper treatment can result in mass mortality of Scylla sp. The potential for disease transmission to people from mud crabs has been demonstrated by a number of significant variables and the water surrounding them. Eating raw or undercooked crab, ingesting water or other substances contaminated with infected crab excrement or mucus, and coming into touch with the infectious agent through open wounds or contact skin scratches or abrasions are the main sources of bacterial infections. It is reported that bacteria transferred by consuming contaminated water with infected organisms or handling are more than 10%. Crab fisherpersons and farmers, in general, have less environmental awareness, and scientific-based knowledge and for this reason, they face various types of occupational hazards including zoonotic septicemia. The present article investigates the distribution of different zoonotic bacteria and their potential threats, both for mud crabs and the human population.