Abstract

Experiments on ingestion rates, colonization and impact of inhibitory producer substances bacteria (IPB) on larvae of Argopecten purpuratus, were carried out to evaluate potential use of bacteria as probiotics in cultures of this Chilean scallop. Three selected strains, named as 11, C33 and 77, obtained from larval cultures of A. purpuratus were tested at different concentrations and incubation times. After 6 h of incubation at a concentration of 10(6) cells ml(-1), A. purpuratus larvae ingested cells of strains 11 and 77, but not those of C33. When comparing bacterial incorporation among these strains, the 77 became the dominant bacteria of the larval microflora, causing no differences in larval survival at different bacterial concentrations. Our results suggest that strain 77 appears as a potential probiotic for scallop larvae and hence, as a promising method to control and prevent infections in hatcheries systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.