Facultative anaerobic bacteria in the digestive tract of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) maintained in fresh water under defined culture conditions.

The bacterial flora in the digestive tract of chum salmon growing in fresh water under defined and controlled culture conditions was examined both qualitatively and quantitatively. The predominant species present in the digestive tract were identified as Aeromonas, with Aeromonas hydrophila being the most common isolate. These aeromonads were not isolated from the diet. Other bacterial species commonly isolated included Bacillus, Enterobacter, nonpigmented pseudomonads, Micrococcus, and Acinetobacter. These species were also isolated from the diet or tank water. As many as 10-8 viable bacteria per g (wet weight) of digestive tract plus contents were counted. After 75 days of starvation, 10-6 viable bacteria were counted, whereas fish fed a sterile feed contained 10-5 viable bacteria per g (wet weight) of digestive tract plus contents.