Open AccessSalt in the Food and Water as a Supportive Therapy for Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Infestation on Silver Catfish, Rhamdia quelen , Fingerlings
Author(s) -
Garcia Lucianode O.,
Becker Alexssandro G.,
Copatti Carlos E.,
Baldisserotto Bernardo,
Neto João Radünz
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the world aquaculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0893-8849
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.2006.00068.x
Subject(s) - catfish , ichthyophthirius multifiliis , biology , infestation , zoology , salt (chemistry) , fishery , veterinary medicine , fish <actinopterygii> , food science , botany , chemistry , medicine
This study verified the efficacy of common salt (NaCl) in the food and water as a supportive therapy for Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and growth of silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen , fingerlings. After appearance of the first white spots following experimental exposure, indicating infestation by this parasite, fish were transferred to eighteen 40‐L polypropylene tanks and kept for 30 d. Experimental diets were prepared with five different levels of salt supplementation: 0.0, 1.2, 2.5, 5.0, and 6.0% for 30 d. In addition, another group of fish were fed a diet without salt supplementation but exposed to 4 g of salt/L of water. Fingerlings were collected at different times for analyses of whole‐body Na + , K + , and Cl − . Dietary salt supplementation provoked a transitory increase in whole‐body Na + , K + , and Cl − in infested catfish fingerlings, but the best stabilization of these ion levels was observed in specimens exposed to salt in the water. Silver catfish fed a diet containing 1.2% salt showed higher weight and biomass after 30 d compared to those fed with 6% salt. The use of 4 g of salt/L of water improved survival of infested silver catfish, but dietary salt supplementation was ineffective as a therapy for ichthyophthiriasis.