The reference strains of Enterococcus seriolicida (ATCC 49156(T)) (T = type strain) and of Lactococcus garvieae (ATCC 43921(T)) and 30 field strains of Gram-positive cocci isolated from diseased rainbow trout in Italy were found to be phenotypically (API 20 STREPT and API 50 CH) and genetically (DNA-DNA hybridization) similar. The high DNA-DNA homologies (70-100%) and the low Delta T-m(e) (less than 1.1 degrees C) among these strains showed that Enterococcus seriolicida and Lactococcus garvieae are synonyms, describing a single bacterial species. E. seriolicida strains should be classified as L. garvieae, which must be considered as a major pathogen of freshwater and salt water fish with a world-wide distribution.