Identification and characterization of carnobacteria associated with the gills of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).

Using the surface plate technique, the population level of aerobic bacteria , occurring in the gills of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), was determine d to be approximately 3 x 10(4) g(-1). Of 100 isolates investigated, 58 wer e Gram-negative. Out of the 42 Gram-positive isolates, 26 belonged to the c arnobacteria, of which ten were further identified on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis and AFLP(TM) fingerprinting. hll were identified as Carn obacterium piscicola-like. These carnobacteria strains were also screened f or their ability to produce growth inhibitory compounds active against the fish pathogens Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, Vibrio anguillarum and Vibrio salmonicida. Nine out of the ten C. piscicola isolates tested s trongly inhibited growth of the three pathogens.