Shift in the Intestinal Microflora of Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) Larvae during First Feeding

Abstract

Isolates of aerobic intestinal bacterial flora from unfed Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) larvae revealed a population dominated by nonfermentative rods of the Cytophaga/Flexibacter/Flavobacterium group. Following the onset of feeding, the flora gradually changed towards a fermentative flora dominated by the Vibrio/Aeromonas group. This transition occurred faster in a group which was reared in water containing cultivated phytoplankton, in contrast with groups where the larvae were kept in filtered water. No major differences in the bacterial flora of the tank water were found among the groups.