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Evaluation of sodium percarbonate as a bath treatment for amoebic gill disease in Atlantic salmon
Author(s) -
Taylor Richard S.,
Slinger Joel,
Camargo Lima Paula,
English Chloe J.,
Maynard Ben T.,
Samsing Francisca,
McCulloch Russell,
QuezadaRodriguez Petra R.,
Wynne James W.
Publication year - 2021
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.14874
Subject(s) - freshwater fish , biology , aquaculture , fishery , aquatic animal , sodium , veterinary medicine , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , chemistry , medicine , organic chemistry
Amoebic gill disease (AGD), caused by Neoparamoeba perurans , is a major health challenge for Atlantic salmon aquaculture globally. While freshwater bathing for 2 hr is effective in reducing infection severity, there is need for more rapid and lower cost alternatives. To this end, a combination of sodium percarbonate (SPC) in freshwater was examined for its treatment efficacy. Initial in vitro studies showed a reduction in amoeba viability when exposed for 30 min to freshwater containing >500 mg/L SPC. Subsequently, AGD‐affected salmon were bathed for 30 min in 16°C freshwater containing 100, 500 or 1,000 mg/L SPC, or for 2 hr in 16°C freshwater to mimic industry practice. Treatment at the highest SPC concentration caused extensive gill damage and substantial mortality. Neither occurred to a significant extent at lower SPC concentrations. Gill pathology of surviving fish 10 days post‐treatment (dpt) was comparable to or more severe than pre‐treatment, and significantly ( p < .001) more severe than in 2 hr freshwater bathed fish. N. perurans DNA was confirmed by qPCR in all treatment groups at 10 dpt. The data indicate that a 30‐min exposure to SPC in freshwater is not a suitable alternative to existing freshwater treatment of AGD.