In an additional experiment,we tested the relative ability of bacteria
to survive in the two waters using an in vitro test where a standardized
inoculum of 2.0 × 108 F. columnare cellswas added to test tubes containing
10mL of sterilized water (n=3). Tubes were incubated at 19 °C for 24 h followed by standard CFU counts (Herigstad et al., 2001).
There was no significant difference in viable F. columnare cells
incubated in SNARC water (6.5 × 107 ± 9.9 × 106 CFUs) and WARU
water (4.9 × 107 ± 5.0 × 106 CFUs).