Incidence of Pathogenic Microorganisms in Aquacultured Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Quantitative levels of six known pathogens (Listeria ,monocytogenes, Clostridium botulinum, Salmonella species, Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Y. pseudotuberculosis) and aerobic plate counts were measured at five aquaculture facilities. The farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and trout fillets were sampled at two different growing seasons to monitor for microbial hazards. Listeria spp. was identified in both whole trout and trout fillets from all five facilities sampled from both growing seasons. Presumptive Clostridium botulinum spores were also identified from all five facilities for both seasons. The growing season did not affect pathogen levels and there was no evidence that any one aquacultural system was superior to the others. Salmonella spp., Vibrio cholerae, and Yersinia spp. were not isolated from any of the trout samples analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]