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Efficacy of hydrogen peroxide for treating saprolegniasis in channel catfish
Howe, G. E., Gingerich, W. H., Dawson, V. K., and Olson, J. J., 1999, Efficacy of hydrogen peroxide for treating saprolegniasis in channel catfish: Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, v. 11, no. 3, p. 222-230.
Abstract
Hatchery-reared
fish and their eggs are commonly afflicted with saprolegniasis, a fungal disease
that can cause significant losses in production. Fish culturists need safe and
effective fungicides to minimize losses and meet production demands. The efficacy
of hydrogen peroxide was evaluated for preventing or controlling mortality
associated
with saprolegniasis in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Saprolegniasis
was systematically induced in channel catfish so various therapies could be evaluated
in a controlled laboratory environment. Both prophylactic and therapeutic hydrogen
peroxide both treatments of 50, 100, and 150 mu L/L for 1 h were administered
Every other day for seven total treatments. All untreated positive control fish
died of saprolegniasis during the prophylactic and therapeutic tests. Hydrogen
peroxide treatments of 150 mu L/L were harmful (relative to loa er concentrations)
to test fish and resulted in 73-95CTo mortality. Mortality was attributed to a
combination of abrasion, temperature, chemical treatment, and disease stressors.
Treatments of 100 mu L/L were less harmful (relatively) but also appeared to contribute
to mortality (60-79%). These treatments, however, significantly reduced the incidence
of mortality and infection compared with those observed for fish of the positive
control or 150-mu L/L treatment groups. Overall. Treatments of 50 mu L/L were
found to be the most safe and effective of these tested. Mortality with this concentration
ranged from 16% in therapeutic tests to 41% in prophylactic tests. The statistical
model employed
estimated that the optimum treatment concentration for preventing
or controlling mortality, reducing the incidence of infections, and enhancing
the recovery of infected fish was 75 mu L H2O2/L.
Keywords: Winter saprolegniosis