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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202673
Title: The effect of chemical treatments on Melanoides tuberculatus, and exotic snails that serve as vectors of trematodes to fish and other species in the United States

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item HOBBS, MELISSA - 6225-10-00
item BRANDT, THOMAS - USDI/USFWS

Submitted to: North American Journal of Fisheries Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2007
Publication Date: 11/1/2007
Citation: Mitchell, A.J., Hobbs, M., Brandt, T. 2007. The effect of chemical treatments on Melanoides tuberculatus, and exotic snails that serve as vectors of trematodes to fish and other species in the United States. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 27:1287-1293.

Interpretive Summary: An exotic snail called the red-rim melania transmits parasites to fish and may displace native mollusks. It has been reported from 16 states in the USA and is spreading. The most likely means of spread between different natural bodies of water is by fisheries equipments such as nets. Thirteen different chemicals and chemical combinations were evaluated as disinfectants to kill the snail. Only chemicals at concentrations and exposure periods that produced a 100% kill of the snails tested were considered effective, because a single red-rim melania can reproduce. Roccal-D-Plus at 20, 600, and 2,000 mg/L for 24, 16, and 1 h, respectively was considered effective, along with 24 h treatments of Hydrothol-191, niclosamide and Virkon at 80, 2, and 1,600 mg/L, respectively.

Technical Abstract: The red-rim melania Melanoides tuberculatus is an exotic aquatic snail that serves as a vector of several trematodes and may displace native mollusks. It has been documented in 16 states in the USA, and is spreading. The snail has an operculum that can protect it from desiccation and it can remain viable for days on dry fisheries equipment. Thus, contaminated fisheries equipment is suspected as one of the ways the snail is being moved from place to place. A study was conducted to find chemical treatments that would kill 100% of the M. tuberculatus. Thirteen different chemicals and chemical combinations were evaluated at different concentrations and for various exposure periods. Roccal-D-Plus, Hydrothol-191, niclosamide and Virkon showed promise in 24-h exposures at concentrations of 20 mg/L active ingredient (AI), 80 mg/L AI, 2 mg/L, and 1,600 mg/L AI, respectively. Additionally, Roccal-D-Plus killed all snails exposed to 2,000 mg/L for 1-h and 600 mg/L for 16-h exposure. Roccal-D-Plus has a history of use as a disinfectant for fishery equipment.