Research Journal of Microbiology1816-4935xxxx-xxxxScience International10.3923/jm.2016.119.125Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)]]>AjayiA.A. OnibokunE.A. GeorgeF.O.A. AtolagbeO.M. 4-52016114-5Chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes that break down the glycosidic bonds in chitin. Chitin is a component of the cell walls of fungi and exoskeletal elements of some animals (including worms and arthropods), therefore, chitinases are generally found in organisms that either needs to reshape their own chitin or dissolve and digest the chitin of fungi or animals. The importance of chitinase in industries cannot be overemphasized as it has been applied in agriculture, as a biopesticide for control of plant fungi infections, in medicine, as indicators of fungi infection and in waste management, for biodegradation of fish waste. African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) which plays host to bacteria is very readily available and easy to cultivate thus providing a cheap means of obtaining chitinolytic bacteria for the production of chitinase in commercial quantity. Bacteria populations isolated from the skin and gut of catfish were screened on colloidal-chitin agar medium. Chitinase production was determined by zones of hydrolysis produced after 96 h of incubation at 37°C. The result of this investigation revealed thirty-six pure bacterial isolates from the skin and gut of catfish. Gram staining test revealed, twenty five Gram positive bacteria while eleven were Gram negative. After four days of incubation, twenty-six bacteria isolates obtained from the gut and skin of catfish were selected as chitinase producing bacteria based on the clear zones of hydrolysis produced. The bacterial isolates obtained will be very useful for the production of chitinase which can be employed for the biocontrol of fungal pathogens and harmful insects. This study presents a first time report of Chitinase producing Bacillus cereus from the gut of catfish (Clarias gariepinus).]]>Abass, A.A., A.A. Shaheen and A.M. Abdel-Latif,2004Clarias gariepinus.]]>2004pp: 479492Emikpe, B.O., T. Adebisi and O.B. Adedeji,2011Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus from Ibadan, South West Nigeria: Public health implications.]]>15259Adewumi, A.A. and V.F. Olaleye,2011612811285Brzezinska, M.S., U. Jankiewicz, A. Burkowska and M. Walczak,2014687181Dadebo, E., D. Aemro and Y. Tekle‐Giorgis,2014Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (Pisces: Clariidae) in Lake Koka, Ethiopia.]]>52471478Davies, H.S.,199724119Egwui, P.C.,1986Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), from a low input, homestead, concrete pond.]]>558791Fagbenro, O.A., C.O. Adedire and M.L. Aiyegbeni,2001Malapterurus electricus (Gmelin 1789) (Malapteruridae).]]>1416Hamid, R., M.A. Khan, M. Ahmad, M.M. Ahmad, M.Z. Abdin, J. Musarrat and S. Javed,201352129Jholapara, R.J., R.S. Mehta, A.M. Bhagwat and C.S. Sawant,2013Bacillus spp.]]>5412418Kamil, Z., M. Rizk, M. Saleh and S. Moustafa,200725766Kopecny, J., B. Hodrova and C.S. Stewart,199623195198Mathivanan, N., V. Kabilan and K. Murugesan,1998Fusarium chlamydosporum, a mycoparasiteto groundnut rust, Puccinia arachidis.]]>44646651Matsumoto, K.S.,20062006pp: 289-304pp: 289-304Moreau, Y.,19881988pp: 137-152pp: 137-152Oladosu-Ajayi, R.N., F.O.A. George, S.O. Obasa, A.A. Ajayi and M.O. Bankole,2011Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) held at ambient temperatures.]]>36773Olayemi, F.F., A.O. Raji and M.R. Adebayo,2012Clarias gariepinus) smoked with Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) developed smoking kiln.]]>3426430Priya, C.S., N. Jagannathan and P.T. Kalaichelvan,2011Streptomyces hygroscopicus VMCH2 by optimisation of cultural conditions.]]>2210219Ringo, E., S. Sperstad, R. Myklebust, S. Refstie and A. Krogdahl,2006Gadus morhua L.): The effect of fish meal, standard soybean meal and a bioprocessed soybean meal.]]>261829841Saima, M. Kuddus, Roohi and I.Z. Ahmad,2013113946Schallmey, M., A. Singh and O.P. Ward,2004Bacillus species for industrial production.]]>50117Simunek, J., J. Kopecny, B. Hodrova and H. Bartonova,2002Clostridium paraputrificum, a chitinolytic bacterium of human digestive tract.]]>47559564Saranya, N. and T. Thayumanavan,2013Pseudomonas putida isolated from fish waste dumping soil.]]>3214223Tjoelker, L.W., L. Gosting, S. Frey, C.L. Hunter and H.L. Trong et al.,2000275514520Vernazza, C.L., G.R. Gibson and R.A. Rastall,2005In vitro fermentation of chitosan derivatives by mixed cultures of human faecal bacteria.]]>60539545Vicencio, A.G., S. Narain, Z.F. Du, W.Y. Zeng, J. Ritch, A. Casadevall and D.L. Goldman,20082008Watanabe, T., W. Oyanagi, K. Suzuki, K. Ohnishi and H. Tanaka,1992Bacillus circulans WL-12 and possible homology of the enzyme to other prokaryotic chitinases and class III plant chitinases.]]>174408414Xiao, X., X. Yin, J. Lin, L. Sun, Z. You, P. Wang and F. Wang,20057179047909Zarei, M., S. Aminzadeh, A. Ghoroghi, A.A. Motalebi, J. Alikhajeh and M. Daliri,201211911925