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Cajeput oil, an effective botanical against gyrodactylid infection
Author(s) -
Schelkle Bettina,
Richards Elizabeth L,
Snellgrove Donna,
Cable Jo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.12744
Subject(s) - biology , aquaculture , tea tree oil , levamisole , ornamental plant , bay , livestock , microbiology and biotechnology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , toxicology , ecology , zoology , botany , essential oil , civil engineering , engineering
Infectious diseases are a major welfare issue, economically costly and, from a conservation perspective, threaten susceptible fish populations. Parasite control in aquaculture is over reliant on a limited range of treatments which tend to be low in efficacy, toxic to hosts and have negative consequences on human health and the environment. Here, we tested 22 botanical treatments alongside five controls against G yrodactylus turnbulli ( H arris 1986), in vitro and in vivo, infecting guppies ( P oecilia reticulata P eters 1859). Survival of detached parasites was significantly reduced by all treatments with cajuput oil, bay rum oil, bladderwrack, octanoic acid, pine tree oil and barberry killing worms instantly. In vivo , cajuput oil applied with emulsifier was as effective as a licensed livestock dewormer, Levamisole, which is not routinely prescribed for use in fish; hence, cajuput can be considered for further research to replace Levamisole in UK research laboratories as well as in ornamental aquaculture.