Screening of Bacteria with Antiviral Activity from Fresh Water Salmonid Hatcheries

Bacteria isolated from two salmonid hatcheries were screened for antiviral activity against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) to ascertain the presence of bacteria with anti-IHNV activity in the aquatic environment. Out of 710 bacterial isolates from the water and sediment samples, 190 strains showed anti-IHNV activities of more than 50% plaque reduction. These antiviral activities were detected predominantly in Pseudomonas, Aeromonas/Vibrio, and coryneforms. In one hatchery, the bacteria with antiviral activities were more prevalent in sediment samples than in water samples. Seventy-seven percent of the isolates with higher antiviral activities (greater than 90% plaque reduction) belonged to Pseudomonas.