The effect of early exposure to Vibrio pelagius on the aerobic bacterial flora of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.) larvae

Vibrio pelagius was added to filtered sea water in experimental tanks containing newly‐hatched larvae of Scophthalmus maximus. The bacterial load of larvae increased from day 1 post‐hatch and by day 14 had reached 5 × 10 4 bacteria per larva. Vibrio pelagius dominated the aerobic bacterial flora of larvae exposed to this bacterial species but was not detected in larvae not exposed to exogenous bacteria. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using rabbit antiserum against V. pelagius allowed a specific quantitative assay for homologous bacterial antigens in individual larvae, with very little cross‐reaction against heterologous bacteria. The results of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays of V. pelagius antigens in larvae from tank water inoculated with this bacterial species correlated with the bacterial levels found in the larvae by culture on agar plates.