Pd. Munro et al., COMPARISON OF THE GUT BACTERIAL-FLORA OF START-FEEDING LARVAL TURBOT REARED UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 77(5), 1994, pp. 560-566
Bacterial colonization of the gut of turbot larvae coincided with the
start of feeding and the gut microflora was then dominated by Vibrio a
nd Aeromonas species. The detection of similar bacterial isolates over
several days indicated the presence of a stable microflora during the
rotifer feeding stage, probably reflecting a stable flora in the roti
fer culture. There was no correlation between the number of bacteria i
n the gut and larval survival rates; incidences of high mortalities we
re not associated with high numbers of recognized fish pathogens, alth
ough an Aeromonas species was implicated as an opportunistic pathogen.
Potential pathogens were isolated, albeit in low numbers, from batche
s of apparently healthy larvae with high survival rates. It is probabl
e that the bacterial flora plays an important role in determining the
survival of larval fish and that the establishment of a beneficial flo
ra is possible, although the criteria for such a flora have still to b
e elucidated.