Postspawning mortality of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) associated with Lactobacillus

A Lactobacillus sp. was consistently isolated from dead and moribund postspawning brood stock rainbow trout. Pathology was characterized by massive chronic inflammation throughout the abdominal cavity and formation of pseudomembranes. The bacteria were most abundant in spent testes. Repeated handling was considered to be the major stressor leading to this infection and subsequent high mortality.