鮸鱼弧菌病病原菌(哈维氏弧菌)的分离与鉴定

【目的】2009年春季,浙江省舟山地区养殖鮸鱼暴发弧菌病。症状主要表现为体表病灶部位出血、肌肉溃烂、内脏器官有白斑等。【方法】从病鱼体表溃疡部位及内脏分离出优势菌株090212,经人工感染证实该菌即为致病菌。通过API系统和菌体常规形态特征、培养特性和生理生化反应指标测定以及16S rRNA测序分析等综合鉴定,【结果】确认090212为哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi),该菌为革兰氏阴性,菌体呈短杆状,极生单鞭毛。该菌对氟苯尼考、四环素等5种抗生素敏感。【结论】哈维氏弧菌是海水养殖鱼类的常见致病菌,但作为养殖鮸鱼的病原菌尚属首次报道,将对鮸鱼的病害防治和健康养殖具有重要的指导意义。     

哈维氏弧菌铁超氧化物歧化酶基因表达及免疫作用研究

哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)是鱼虾等海水动物的重要病原菌。超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide dismutase)通过催化超氧阴离子自由基(O2-)形成O2 和H2O2, 以保持细胞自由基产生和清除之间的平衡, 在病原菌适应环境及细菌致病性方面发挥重要作用。用PCR 从哈维氏弧菌基因组扩增得到600 bp 的目的片段, 序列分析表明与弧菌Fe-SOD 的序列相似性为91%—99%。将目的基因片段克隆到原核表达载体进行表达。SDS-PAGE电泳分析显示纯化的蛋白为单一条带, 分子量为27 kD。具有典型的Fe-SOD 吸收光谱, 对氯仿-乙醇和H2O2敏感, 表明纯化的蛋白属于Fe-SOD。用邻苯三酚自氧化法测得酶的最适pH 7, 最适温度20℃。该酶在pH6—8 的范围内稳定, 当温度超过40℃时酶的活力迅速丧失。纯化的重组蛋白免疫大菱鲆, 4 周后用致病性哈维氏弧菌进行人工感染试验, 对大菱鲆的免疫保护率为80.00%。Western blot 可以检测到免疫大菱鲆的血清中的特异抗体。       

双斑东方鲀皮肤溃烂症病原菌鉴定及药敏分析

【背景】2016年6月福建省海水鱼类苗种繁育科研中试基地养殖的双斑东方鲀出现皮肤溃烂症,病鱼特征为:游动缓慢,停止摄食,口角、表皮、鳍条溃烂,肾脏、脾脏充血严重。【目的】对发生皮肤溃烂症双斑东方鲀病原进行鉴定,以期为该疾病有效防治提供技术支撑。【方法】从濒死病鱼肾脏、脾脏和病灶部位肌肉组织分离出优势菌株,经人工肌肉注射感染证实其为致病菌。经菌株形态学、生理生化特征分析、16Sr RNA基因序列分析和系统发育树构建等手段综合鉴定并进行药敏分析。【结果】从患病鱼体脾脏分离得到一株优势菌株SBDFT-1#,人工感染实验证实为致病菌。结合形态、生理生化和分子生物学鉴定确定该菌为哈维氏弧菌(Vibrioharveyi),该菌为革兰氏阴性菌,极生单鞭毛,呈短杆状,菌体大小0.9×2.0μm。该菌株在2216E平板培养基菌落呈乳白色,边缘透明,中间凸起;在TCBS培养基菌落呈黄色,边缘整齐,中央隆起。该菌对苯唑西林、头孢噻肟、氧氟沙星、链霉素、复方新诺明、多粘菌素B等14种抗生素敏感,对氨苄西林、青霉素、四环素、麦迪霉素等9种抗生素耐药。【结论】哈维氏弧菌是海水养殖经济鱼类的常见致病菌,但从患病双斑东方鲀体内分离出属首次报道,对防治双斑东方鲀皮肤溃烂症具有积极的指导意义。     

环介导等温扩增联合横向流动试纸条可视化检测哈维氏弧菌的研究

以哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)为材料,利用环介导等温扩增技术(LAMP)进行核酸扩增,借助横向流动试纸条(LFD)完成产物检测,旨在建立一种可用于哈维氏弧菌快速检测的LAMP-LFD新技术。以哈维氏弧菌的溶血素基因(vhh A)为检测靶标设计了3对特异性引物(其中,上游内引物vhh A-FIP由生物素标记),进行由生物素标记的LAMP反应;同时设计1条异硫氰酸荧光素(FITC)标记的探针,与获得的LAMP产物进行特异性杂交,杂交产物经LFD完成检测。经优化,LAMP的反应条件为63℃反应40 min,由LFD完成结果判读共需50 min。结果表明,LAMP-LFD方法能特异性地检出哈维氏弧菌,对创伤弧菌等其他9种水产养殖重要病原菌的检测结果呈阴性。利用该方法,针对细菌纯培养物的检测灵敏度为1.0×102 CFU/m L或2 CFU/反应,针对污染有该菌的大黄鱼组织的检测灵敏度为5×102 CFU/m L或20 CFU/反应,均是以LAMP外引物vhh A-F3/vhh A-B3的常规PCR方法的100倍。因此,该方法能够快速、准确地检出哈维氏弧菌,有望在海水养殖过程哈维氏弧菌的监测和即时检测中普及使用。     

徐闻方斑东风螺暴发性疾病病原分离鉴定以及防治手段探索

为了明确引起方斑东风螺急性死亡症的病原,对2015年6月广东省徐闻县发生的方斑东风螺(Babylonia areolata)急性死亡症进行了病原分离纯化,获得1株优势细菌,命名为XW-01。将XW-01人工感染方斑东风螺,表现出自然发病症状,证实分离菌株为致病菌。分离的菌株经形态学观察、生理生化鉴定和病原16S r RNA序列分析,结果显示该病原菌为哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)。XW-01对方斑东风螺半致死剂量(LD50)测定值为6.3×106 cfu/m L。药敏试验结果显示,该病原菌对常见的7种抗菌药物氟哌酸、氟苯尼考、氨苄西林、恩诺沙星、头孢三嗪、左旋氧氟沙星和妥布霉素敏感。添加不同剂量的三联生物噬菌王产品到水族箱中,对方斑东风螺用浸泡法进行人工感染哈维氏弧菌试验,观察东风螺发病及死亡情况。试验结果表明,添加1%的此产品可以明显降低东风螺的死亡率,表明三联生物噬菌王产品对东风螺感染哈维氏弧菌所引起的急性坏死病有明显的预防作用。     

不同大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)个体肠道菌群结构差异研究

目的:肠道微生物能够帮助宿主完成多种生理生化功能,对宿主的健康生长也起到非常重要的作用。大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)是我国北方最重要的海水养殖品种之一。然而,细菌性疾病的频发造成大规模的鱼类死亡。此外,许多大菱鲆致病菌也被证实是人类潜在的致病菌。因此鉴定成年养殖大菱鲆肠道中所包含的核心菌群,并筛选可能与大菱鲆或人类健康密切相关的细菌尤为重要。方法:构建三个大菱鲆个体肠道16S rRNA文库,利用限制性片段长度多态性分析(RFLP)及生物信息学技术研究三个大菱鲆个体肠道菌群结构及多样性。结果:共得到758个阳性克隆,16个OTU类型。分类分析显示,变形菌门在大菱鲆肠道中占优势地位。进一步将细菌按属来分类显示,弧菌属所占的比例最高,约为95.3%。韦恩图显示大菱鲆三个个体共有的OTU类型数量为3,分别占三个大菱鲆个体肠道文库中阳性克隆总数的94.9%、96.7%以及93.5%。分类结果显示它们分别属于条件致病菌哈氏弧菌、副溶血弧菌和创伤弧菌。结论:大菱鲆的核心肠道菌群为弧菌属,它的主要成员哈氏弧菌、副溶血弧菌和创伤弧菌对大菱鲆及人类的健康起到关键的作用。在水产养殖过程中,通过监控这些弧菌种类的浓度变化能够及时对养殖环境进行评价,并及时调整温度、水质等因素,这为预防大菱鲆细菌性疾病,保证人类健康提供重要的理论依据。     

两株珍珠龙趸病原性哈维弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)的分离与鉴定

自海南陵水和广东深圳养殖场患病珍珠龙趸(pearl gentian)分离到2 株优势菌(X12XC30 和X13SZ03), 经回归感染实验证实2 株菌是珍珠龙趸的病原菌, 对珍珠龙趸的半致死浓度(LD₅₀)分别是6.58×10⁶ CFU·g^-1 和9.83×10⁵ CFU·g^-1。对菌株进行形态、颜色和生长条件等常规生理生化实验, 并进行16S rDNA, rctB 和toxR 等管家基因的序列分析综合鉴定。结果显示: 2 株病原菌均为短杆状革兰氏阴性菌, TCBS 生长为黄色, 对O/129(150 ug·片^-1)敏感, 生理生化指标与哈维弧菌标准株一致; 16SrDNA, rctB 和toxR 序列在Genbank 上检索与哈维弧菌的同源性最高, 根据管家基因的序列构建系统进化树, 自然地与哈维弧菌分支聚类为一支, 确定这2 株菌均为哈维弧菌。药敏实验发现2 株哈维弧菌均耐呋喃唑酮, 而对诺氟沙星、恩诺沙星、环丙沙星和氯霉素等药物敏感。哈维弧菌具有较高的致死率, 在珍珠龙趸养殖业中存在潜在的威胁。     

恩诺沙星对4种水产致病弧菌的抑杀菌效应

采用二倍稀释法测定恩诺沙星对溶藻弧菌、最小弧菌、哈维氏弧菌、创伤弧菌4种12株菌的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(MBC),结果表明:恩诺沙星对12株弧菌的MIC为0.1?0.8 mg/L,MBC为0.4?3.2 mg/L。在此基础上,从每种菌中选取一株对恩诺沙星较为敏感的菌株,研究恩诺沙星不同药物浓度(1 MIC、2 MIC、4 MIC)对4种弧菌的杀菌动力学和抗菌后效应(PAE),结果显示:各浓度恩诺沙星对溶藻弧菌X040625-R菌株均有较强的杀菌作用,而对哈维氏弧菌M071202-H、创伤弧菌Q050723-C、最小弧菌H010911-Z等3菌株却表现出了低浓度抑菌、高浓度缓慢杀菌的作用。恩诺沙星的抗菌后效应PAE与药物浓度及细菌与药物的接触时间成正相关,恩诺沙星对溶藻弧菌X040625-R的PAE最长,对哈维氏弧菌M071202-H的PAE最短。     

哈维氏弧菌适配子的SELEX筛选及其亲和特异性研究

哈维氏弧菌是水产养殖中的重要条件致病菌,对其进行快速、准确地检测和鉴定是相关病害防治的基础和关键.适配子具有亲和力高、特异性强、稳定性好等优点,在微生物的检测和鉴定方面呈现出广泛的应用前景.本研究以哈维氏弧菌为靶目标,采用SELEX技术,即指数级富集配体的系统进化技术,筛选其特异性适配子.经15轮筛选后,随机ssDNA文库的亲和力从3.51上升到58.95,提高了15.8倍.筛选出的适配子富集库经克隆、测序后得到52条不同序列,根据同源性将这些序列分成8个家族,其中第1和第2家族的适配子数量最多,超过总数的50%.通过深入分析,筛选出6个对哈维氏弧菌有显著亲和特异性(P0.01)的高频适配子,其中5个高频适配子(S1、S25、S26、S27、S35)对哈维氏弧菌有较高的亲和力,相应的亲和常数Kd值分别为(32.6±7.1)、(45.3±10.1)、(24.7±5.8)、(34.8±5.6)、(12.9±4.0)nmol/L.本文还对高频适配子的产生机制及其应用价值进行了探讨.本文首次筛选出了对哈维氏弧菌具有较高亲和特异性的适配子,为后续利用适配子进行哈维氏弧菌的检测和鉴定奠定了基础.     

检测鲆鱼腹水病病原菌迟缓爱德华氏菌和溶藻弧菌的嵌套PCR方法

本文首次建立了用嵌套式聚合酶链式反应（nested-PCR）分别检测天津地区海水工厂化养殖大菱鲆和褐牙鲆腹水病病原菌迟缓爱德华氏菌（Edwardsiella tarda）和溶藻弧菌（Vibrio alginolyticus）的方法。以E781F和E781R为引物,扩增迟缓爱德华氏菌溶血素基因中781bp的片段,再以E485F和E485R为引物,扩增其中的485bp的片段;以V899F和V899R为引物,扩增溶藻弧菌胶原酶基因中899bp片段,再以V550F和V550R为引物,扩增其中的550bp片段。以其他常见海水鱼类致病菌为阴性对照,结果均无非特异性扩增。对迟缓爱德华氏菌和溶藻弧菌的检出灵敏度分别可达10fg和1fg细菌DNA,显著优于目前的检测方法。作者应用该技术对天津地区海水工厂化大菱鲆和褐牙鲆于2006年3月至10月连续进行监测,为有效地控制该病的流行提供了技术支撑。     

大黄鱼病原哈维氏弧菌单克隆抗体的制备及其应用

用甲醛灭活哈维氏弧菌（Vibrio harveyi）GYC1108-1制备免疫原免疫8周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠,利用淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术,用间接酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）对杂交瘤进行筛选,阳性克隆经2－3次亚克隆后,共获得5株针对GYC1108-1的单克隆抗体。选取1B7制备小鼠腹水抗体,其细胞上清及腹水效价分别为1∶3200和1∶32000。同样用灭活的哈维氏弧菌免疫新西兰大白兔,5次免疫后颈动脉采血,离心取血清,并用饱和硫酸铵法进行纯化,制备了兔抗哈维氏弧菌多克隆抗体,其ELISA效价为1∶51200。利用1B7单克隆抗体和兔抗哈维氏弧菌多克隆抗体以及山羊抗小鼠HRP酶标二抗,建立了检测哈维氏弧菌的三抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验（TAS-ELISA）方法。该方法对哈维氏弧菌的最小检出浓度为1×104个/mL。用该TAS-ELISA方法检测大黄鱼（Pseudosciaena crocea）样品,54尾患病大黄鱼中有45尾检出哈维氏弧菌,而14尾健康大黄鱼都没有检出哈维氏弧菌。由此可见,本试验建立的TAS-ELISA方法,可以用于患病大黄鱼哈维氏弧菌的快速诊断。     

A new bacteriophage, VHML, isolated from a toxin-producing strain of Vibrio harveyi in tropical Australia

Some strains of Vibrio harveyi are known to be pathogenic for fish and many invertebrates including crustaceans. Despite their importance, their modes of virulence have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we present a previously unreported bacteriophage extracted from a toxin-producing strain of V. harveyi isolated from moribund prawn larvae in tropical Australia. Classification into the family Myoviridae was based upon morphological characteristics (an icosahedral head, a neck/collar region and a sheathed rigid tail) and nucleic acid characteristics (double-stranded linear DNA). We have termed the bacteriophage VHML (Vibrio Harveyi Myovirus Like). VHML is a temperate bacteriophage that has a narrow host range and shows an apparent preference for V. harveyi above other vibrios (63 Vibrio isolates tested) and other genera (10 other genera were tested). The conventional methods for phage concentration and extraction of nucleic acids from phage particles were not efficient and the alternative methods that were used are discussed.     

16S ribosomal DNA sequencing confirms the synonymy of Vibrio harveyi and V. carchariae

Seventeen bacterial strains previously identified as Vibrio harveyi (Baumann et al. 1981) or V. carchariae (Grimes et al. 1984) and the type strains of V. harveyi, V. carchariae and V. campbellii were analyzed by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing. Four clusters were identified in a phylogenetic analysis performed by comparing a 746 base pair fragment of the 16S rDNA and previously published sequences of other closely related Vibrio species. The type strains of V. harveyi and V. carchariae and about half of the strains identified as V. harveyi or V. carchariae formed a single, well-supported cluster designed as 'bona fide' V. harveyi/carchariae. A second more heterogeneous cluster included most other strains and the V. campbellii type strain. Two remaining strains are shown to be more closely related to V. rumoiensis and V. mediterranei. 16S rDNA sequencing has confirmed the homogeneity and synonymy of V. harveyi and V. carchariae. Analysis of API20E biochemical profiles revealed that they are insufficient by themselves to differentiate V. harveyi and V. campbellii strains. 16S rDNA sequencing, however, can be used in conjunction with biochemical techniques to provide a reliable method of distinguishing V. harveyi from other closely related species.     

Identification of intestinal bacteria from Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and their ability to digest chitin

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to clarify the taxonomic status of intestinal bacteria isolated from Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and describe their ability to digest chitin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences showed that 82 representative isolates were closely related to three major species of marine vibrios, Vibrio scophthalmi-Vibrio ichthyoenteri group (41 isolates), Vibrio fischeri (39 isolates) and Vibrio harveyi (two isolates), with similarities of 97.2-99.8%, 96.4-100% and 98.6-99.5% respectively. These findings indicate that V. scophthalmi-V. ichthyoenteri group is indigenous to the intestinal tract of Japanese flounder. Moreover, the ability of 82 isolates to digest chitin was examined using the agar plate method and PCR amplification of the chiA gene. The two V. harveyi isolates and 36 of 41 V. scophthalmi-V. ichthyoenteri isolates digested chitin and were chiA PCR positive, whereas all 39 V. fischeri isolates digested chitin but were chiA PCR negative. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal bacteria from Japanese flounder were mainly composed of Vibrio scophthalmi-V. ichthyoenteri group and V. fischeri. Taken together, the results showed that 81 of 82 isolates could digest chitin. However, only 38 of these isolates possessed a chiA homologue which could be identified by PCR. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study shows that Japanese flounder harbours bacteria of the V. scophthalmi-V. ichthyoenteri group, and these results are similar to what has been found for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus).     

Real-time PCR detection and quantification of fish probiotic Phaeobacter strain 27-4 and fish pathogenic Vibrio in microalgae, rotifer, Artemia and first feeding turbot (Psetta maxima) larvae

Aims:  To develop a SYBR Green quantitative real-time PCR protocol enabling detection and quantification of a fish probiotic and two turbot pathogenic Vibrio spp. in microcosms.
Methods and Results:  Phaeobacter 27-4, Vibrio anguillarum 90-11-287 and Vibrio splendidus DMC-1 were quantified as pure and mixed cultures and in presence of microalgae ( Isochrysis galbana ), rotifers ( Brachionus plicatilis ), Artemia nauplii or turbot ( Psetta maxima ) larvae by real-time PCR based on primers directed at genetic loci coding for antagonistic and virulence-related functions respectively. The optimized protocol was used to study bioencapsulation and maintenance of the probiont and pathogens in rotifers and for the detection and quantification of Phaeobacter and V. anguillarum in turbot larvae fed rotifers loaded with the different bacteria in a challenge trial.
Conclusions:  Our real-time PCR protocol is reproducible and specific. The method requires separate standard curve for each host organism and can be used to detect and quantify probiotic Phaeobacter and pathogenic Vibrio bioencapsulated in rotifers and in turbot larvae.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Our method allows monitoring and quantification of a turbot larvae probiotic bacteria and turbot pathogenic vibrios in in vivo trials and will be useful tools for detecting the bacteria in industrial rearing units.     

PCR detection of hemolysin (vhh) gene in Vibrio harveyi

The Vibrio harveyi hemolysin gene (vhh), which encodes for a virulence factor involved in pathogenicity to fish and shellfish species, may be targeted for species detection or strain differentiation. Primers designed for this gene were used in detection studies of V. harveyi strains from various hosts. One primer set among four tested, could amplify the expected gene fragment in PCR using templates from all 11 V. harveyi strains studied. Detection of the presence of the hemolysin gene could therefore serve as a suitable detection marker of Vibrio harveyi isolates potentially pathogenic to fish and shrimps.     

Seasonal incidence of autochthonous antagonistic Roseobacter spp. and Vibrionaceae strains in a turbot larva (Scophthalmus maximus) rearing system

Bacteria inhibitory to fish larval pathogenic bacteria were isolated from two turbot larva rearing farms over a 1-year period. Samples were taken from the rearing site, e.g., tank walls, water, and feed for larvae, and bacteria with antagonistic activity against Vibrio anguillarum were isolated using a replica plating assay. Approximately 19,000 colonies were replica plated from marine agar plates, and 341 strains were isolated from colonies causing clearing zones in a layer of V. anguillarum. When tested in a well diffusion agar assay, 173 strains retained the antibacterial activity against V. anguillarum and Vibrio splendidus. Biochemical tests identified 132 strains as Roseobacter spp. and 31 as Vibrionaceae strains. Partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of three strains confirmed the identification as Roseobacter gallaeciensis. Roseobacter spp. were especially isolated in the spring and early summer months. Subtyping of the 132 Roseobacter spp. strains by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA with two primers revealed that the strains formed a very homogeneous group. Hence, it appears that the same subtype was present at both fish farms and persisted during the 1-year survey. This indicates either a common, regular source of the subtype or the possibility that a particular subtype has established itself in some areas of the fish farm. Thirty-one antagonists were identified as Vibrio spp., and 18 of these were V. anguillarum but not serotype O1 or O2. Roseobacter spp. strains were, in particular, isolated from the larval tank walls, and it may be possible to establish an antagonistic, beneficial microflora in the rearing environment of turbot larvae and thereby limit survival of pathogenic bacteria.     

Inhibitory effects of Bacillus probionts on growth and toxin production of Vibrio harveyi pathogens of shrimp

Aim:  To investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis , Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus megaterium in terms of toxin and growth of pathogenic Vibrio harveyi .
Methods and Results:  Three Bacillus probionts were isolated from probiotic BZT aquaculture and identified using a 16S rDNA sequence. Growth inhibition assay showed that supernatants from the 24-h culture of three Bacillus species were able to inhibit the growth of V. harveyi (LMG 4044); B. subtilis was the most effective based on the well diffusion method. Results of a liquid culture model showed that B. subtilis was also widely effective in inhibiting three strains of V. harveyi (isolated from Thailand, the Philippines and LMG 4044), and that both B. licheniformis and B. megaterium inhibit the growth of V. harveyi isolated from the Philippines. Moreover, a haemolytic activity assay demonstrated that V. harveyi (IFO 15634) was significantly decreased by the addition of B. licheniformis or B. megaterium supernatant.
Conclusions:  Bacillus subtilis inhibited Vibrio growth, and both B. licheniformis and B. megaterium suppressed haemolytic activity in Vibrio .
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The cell-free supernatants produced by Bacillus probionts inhibit Vibrio disease, and Bacillus probionts might have an influence on Vibrio cell-to-cell communications.     

Selection and identification of autochthonous potential probiotic bacteria from turbot larvae (Scophthalmus maximus) rearing units

The purpose of this study was to select, identify and characterise bacteria as a disease control measure in the rearing of marine fish larvae (turbot, Scophthalmus maximus). Thirty-four out of 400 marine bacterial strains exhibited in vitro anti-bacterial activity against three fish larval pathogens. Two strains originated from culture collections and thirty two strains were isolated directly from turbot larvae rearing units using a pre-selection procedure to facilitate detection of antagonists. Approximately 8,500 colonies from colony-count plates were replica-plated on agar seeded with Vibrio anguillarum, and 196 of them caused zones of clearing in the V. anguillarum agar layer. Of these, 32 strains exhibited reproducible antibacterial properties in vitro when tested against the fish pathogens V. anguillarum 90-11-287, V. splendidus DMC-1 and a Pseudoalteromonas HQ. Seventeen antagonists were identified as Vibrio spp. and four of twelve tested were lethal to yolk-sac larvae. The 15 remaining strains were identified as Roseobacter spp. based on phenotypic criteria and 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis of two strains representing the two major RAPD groups. Most of the remaining 164 strains selected in the initial replica plating were identified as Vibrionaceae or Pseudoalteromonas. Roseobacter spp. were not lethal to egg yolk sac turbot larvae and in two of three trials, the mortality of larvae decreased (p > 0.001) in treatments where 10(7) cfu/ml Roseobacter sp. strain 27-4 was added, indicating a probiotic potential.