Detailed Research Information

Detailed project information for
Study Plan Number 01072-09

Branch : Fish Health Branch

Study Plan Number : 01072-09

Study Title : Use of Chloramine T as a topical disinfectant to reduce bacterial flora on the skin of mature, sea-run Atlantic salmon

Starting Date :

Completion Date :

Principal Investigator(s) : Cipriano, Rocco C.

Primary PI : Cipriano, Rocco C.

Telephone Number : (304) 724-4432

Email Address : rocco_cipriano@usgs.gov

SIS Number :

Primary Program Element :

Second Program Element :

Status : Completed

Abstract : If A. salmonicida could be detected predominantlty as an external infection, timely intervention with topical disinfectants could theoretically preclude the progression of systemic infection. Compounds such as salt, formalin, and Chloramine-T (sodium para-toluene-sulphonchloramide) are routinely used to treat Atlantic salmon and other fish infected with external parasites, fungi and bacteria. Therefore, studies were conducted in which 60 minute bath treatments in formalin (250 ppm), salt (3%), and Chloramine-T (15 ppm) were evaluated for efficacy against external infection caused by A. salmonicida (Cipriano et al. 1996b). Results indicated that Chloramine-T was more effective against A. salmonicida than either salt or formalin. Among experimental groups of 10 fish, eight control fish were externally infected with bacterial concentrations between 1.7x103 to 8.0x104 cfu of A. salmonicida/g of mucus at 24 h post treatment. Similar to the control group, eight of the formalin-treated and seven of the salt-treated fish also remained infected with pathogen concentrations ranging between 2.0x103 to 3.8x105 cfu/g of mucus. By contrast, only two of the Chloramine-T treated fish remained infected containing concentrations of 2.0x103 and 1.0x104 cfu/g of mucus. Furunculosis is a persistent problem among juvenile production lots of salmon cultured at the White River National Fish Hatchery (Bethel, VT), which historically serves as the principal smolt production facility for restoration of the Connecticut River watershed. During the production cycle in question, frank disease necessitated destruction of pre-smolts stocks and A. salmonicida was detected on the mucus of Atlantic salmon in two production pools at the White River National Fish Hatchery. In one pool, 17 of a 27 fish sample (approximately 7,500 fish per production pool) contained concentrations ranging from 1.0x103 to 4.4x106 cfu. of A. salmonicida/g of mucus. In the second pool, three of 27 fish were detected with concentrations from 1.0x103 to 2.0x103 cfu of A. salmonicida/g of mucus. Static baths of 15 ppm Chloramine-T were administered daily for three days. Seven days post treatment, only one positive fish containing 1.0x104 cfu of A. salmonicida/g mucus was detected in the first pool and no fish tested positive from the second pool. After treatment, the pathogen was not isolated from kidneys of fish in either pool. Therefore, these topical treatments effectively reduced A. salmonicida in the mucus of fish and apparently precluded further development of systemic infection.

For More Information :

° Home

U.S. Department of the Interior || U.S. Geological Survey
11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov
Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov
Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn
Privacy Policy and Disclaimers || FOIA || Accessibility

Branch :	Fish Health Branch
Study Plan Number :	01072-09
Study Title :	Use of Chloramine T as a topical disinfectant to reduce bacterial flora on the skin of mature, sea-run Atlantic salmon
Starting Date :
Completion Date :
Principal Investigator(s) :	Cipriano, Rocco C.
Primary PI :	Cipriano, Rocco C.
Telephone Number :	(304) 724-4432
Email Address :	rocco_cipriano@usgs.gov
SIS Number :
Primary Program Element :
Second Program Element :
Status :	Completed
Abstract :	If A. salmonicida could be detected predominantlty as an external infection, timely intervention with topical disinfectants could theoretically preclude the progression of systemic infection. Compounds such as salt, formalin, and Chloramine-T (sodium para-toluene-sulphonchloramide) are routinely used to treat Atlantic salmon and other fish infected with external parasites, fungi and bacteria. Therefore, studies were conducted in which 60 minute bath treatments in formalin (250 ppm), salt (3%), and Chloramine-T (15 ppm) were evaluated for efficacy against external infection caused by A. salmonicida (Cipriano et al. 1996b). Results indicated that Chloramine-T was more effective against A. salmonicida than either salt or formalin. Among experimental groups of 10 fish, eight control fish were externally infected with bacterial concentrations between 1.7x103 to 8.0x104 cfu of A. salmonicida/g of mucus at 24 h post treatment. Similar to the control group, eight of the formalin-treated and seven of the salt-treated fish also remained infected with pathogen concentrations ranging between 2.0x103 to 3.8x105 cfu/g of mucus. By contrast, only two of the Chloramine-T treated fish remained infected containing concentrations of 2.0x103 and 1.0x104 cfu/g of mucus. Furunculosis is a persistent problem among juvenile production lots of salmon cultured at the White River National Fish Hatchery (Bethel, VT), which historically serves as the principal smolt production facility for restoration of the Connecticut River watershed. During the production cycle in question, frank disease necessitated destruction of pre-smolts stocks and A. salmonicida was detected on the mucus of Atlantic salmon in two production pools at the White River National Fish Hatchery. In one pool, 17 of a 27 fish sample (approximately 7,500 fish per production pool) contained concentrations ranging from 1.0x103 to 4.4x106 cfu. of A. salmonicida/g of mucus. In the second pool, three of 27 fish were detected with concentrations from 1.0x103 to 2.0x103 cfu of A. salmonicida/g of mucus. Static baths of 15 ppm Chloramine-T were administered daily for three days. Seven days post treatment, only one positive fish containing 1.0x104 cfu of A. salmonicida/g mucus was detected in the first pool and no fish tested positive from the second pool. After treatment, the pathogen was not isolated from kidneys of fish in either pool. Therefore, these topical treatments effectively reduced A. salmonicida in the mucus of fish and apparently precluded further development of systemic infection.
For More Information :
° Home


U.S. Department of the Interior \|\| U.S. Geological Survey 11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn Privacy Policy and Disclaimers \|\| FOIA \|\| Accessibility