UNAIR NEWS – Giant gourami fish is well known to the people of Indonesia.ÌýOne of the most popular fish species is not only useful to increase the need for protein but also has a relatively high economic value.ÌýTherefore it is widely cultivated by fish farmers.
Unfortunately, giant gourami fish during cultivation is often attacked by diseases.ÌýThe diseases can be caused by a polluted environment or bacterial attack.ÌýBacteria that often attacks the gourami isÌýAeromonas hydrophila,Ìýone type of pathogenic bacteria that causes red spots on the giant gourami fish.
“Red spot disease calledÌýMotile Aeromonas SepticemiaÌý(MAS) causes gourami to be deformed, and can even cause death by 90%.ÌýIf it is not dealt with seriously, this problem will affect the losses of farmers, “said Rizky Yanuar Rahmadan, a student of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Affairs (FPK) , team leader Student Creativity Program – Exacta Research (PKM-PE).
For this problem, the PKM-PE team is trying to find a solution to the problems by conducting research titled “CICI-KITÌý(Chitosan-Citrus paradisi KIT): Innovation of Natural Antibiotics for Aeromonas hydrophila ±õ²Ô´Ú±ð³¦³Ù±ð»åÌýOspreemus gouramyÌý°Õ°ù±ð²¹³Ù³¾±ð²Ô³Ù.Ìý”
Besides Rizky, there are Putra Surya Lesmana and Iklil Saly Akbar.ÌýUnder the guidance ofÌýEndang Dewi Masithah, Ir., MP., their research proposal passed the selection and obtained research grant from Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education in PKM 2018.
“We have an alternative solution to deal with this problem by creating an antibiotic innovation called CICI-KIT made from natural materials and also environmentally friendly,” said Rizky Yanuar Rahmadan, as the team leader.
The fourth semester student of FPK also said that the antibiotics commonly used by the fish farmers are not environmentally friendly.ÌýThey are made of synthetic materials, and certainly not environmentally friendly.
“The impact of continuous antibiotics will trigger pathogen resistance, so the fish will be more resistant and at some point the antibiotic will not work against the disease.ÌýIt can also adversely affect the metabolism of the fish.ÌýTherefore we make CICI-KIT as an antibiotic innovation made from natural material for giant gourami fish, ” said Rizky YR.
Putra Surya Lesmana, a team member explained that CICI-KIT is made from chitosan formulation and grapefruit (ÌýCitrus paradisiÌý).ÌýBecause the materials are completely from the nature, they are easy to obtain.
The reason for choosing chitosan and grapefruit as CICI-KIT’s natural ingredients, Rizky said that chitosan is able to inhibit the growth of bacteria because it has broad spectrum antibacterial activity while the grapefruit has the ability as antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
A series of trials also conducted by Rizky and friends to see the potential of CICI-KIT.ÌýThe first isÌýin vitroÌýtest,Ìýto testÌýthe Minimum Inhibitory ConcentrationÌý(MIC), to determine the minimum concentration that can inhibit the growth of bacteriaÌýAeromonas hydrophila.ÌýThen test theÌýMinimum Bactericidal ConcentrationÌý(MBC) to find out the minimum concentration that can kill the bacteria.
The best formulation ofÌýin vitro testÌýwas then continued byÌýin vivoÌýtestÌýon gourami using challenge test to see blood profiles in the form of influence onÌýerythrocytesÌýandÌýleukocytesÌý.
“We hope this research result can be an alternative to environmentally friendly antibiotics and can be utilized properly by the gourami cultivators,” concluded Rizky at the end of his explanation.Ìý(*)
Editor: Bambang Bes
