Bacterial community diversity associated with blood cockle (Anadara granosa) in Penang, Malaysia

Bacterial communities of blood cockles (Anadara granosa) collected from wet market across Penang, Malaysia, were examined using a cultivation method. This study aimed to describe the major abundance of blood cockle bacteria and its relationship with different sampling locations. 16S rRNA gene analysis and culturable bacterial numbers were found to be slightly different between samples in two different locations potentially due to management, handling, transport and storage practices by the farmers, distributors and retailers. Results from this study indicated that most of bacteria found were typically present in blood cockles. The results revealed that there were slight similarities between sampling times; and slight differences on bacterial numbers between two different sampling locations. Based on the results, the blood cockle microbial communities comprised of members of the genera Klebsiella and Bacillus, which are greatly predominant, with highly dynamic of bacterial communities. Other bacterial genera found were E.coli, Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Micrococcus. The overall data demonstrated dynamic bacterial communities in blood cockles (Anadara granosa) and its diversity.