Drugs/chemicals used in aquaculture Feed additives (Sulfonamides) Sulfamerazine (fish grade) and Romet-30 Effective for bacterial infections Toxicity may occur - Kidney damage (drug crystal formation in renal tubules) Clinical signs – bloating/dropsy (stomach full of water) Commercial availability in feed has limited many problems
Drugs/chemicals used in aquaculture Sulfonamides (continued) Sulfamerazine (fish grade) No longer available Romet-30 Suggested dose (furunculosis) – 50mg/kg fish/day for 5 to 7 days Also effective for ESC
Drugs/chemicals used in aquaculture Terramycin (oxytetracycline) – TM50 Generally drug of choice in aquaculture Recommended dose – 55-83mg/Kg fish/day for 10 days Effective against gram neg. bacteria (BKD?) ERM, Furunculosis, CWD, etc. Should not be fed on prophylactic basis! Resistance to oxytetracycline can occur in most bacterial fish pathogens (Meyer and Schnick 1989)
Drugs/chemicals used in aquaculture Therapeutants added to water Methods Static bath – most reliable for raceways/tanks/troughs Constant flow – safe and can be used in most situations when fish reared in running water Prolonged – Chemicals Formalin Most widely used agent in fish culture (solution contains 37% formaldehyde in water)
Drugs/chemicals used in aquaculture Chemicals (cont.) Quaternary Ammonium compounds Benzalkonium chloride/Hyamine Now only limited use in food fish Potassium Permanganate Strong oxidizing agent
Drugs/chemicals used in aquaculture Chemicals (cont.) Copper Sulfate Algaecide/bactericide/parasiticide Can produce kidney necrosis, destruction of hematopoietic tissue, increased liver fat and inhibition of digestive enzymes. NaCl (salt) Most overlooked treatment Can be very effective 3% recommended if possible (10-30 min)