Abstract

This study reports on the search for naturally occurring bacteria which are able to promote the growth and survival of Argopecten purpuratus larvae by inhibiting the activity of other deleterious bacteria that flourish in hatchery cultures. A total of 506 bacterial isolates, obtained from laboratory and hatchery sources, were evaluated for the production of substances inhibitory to a Vibrio anguillarum-related (VAR) larval pathogen, of which 11 (2.2%) were found positive. One of these strains (Vibrio sp.), when used as a pre-treatment, protected the scallop larvae against subsequent experimental infection with the VAR pathogen. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.