ARS | Publication request: Efficacy of florfenicol, copper sulfate and potassium permanganate in controlling a natural infection of Aeromonas hydrophila and Flavobacterium columnare in sunshine bass, Morone chrysops female x Morone saxatilis male

Submitted to: International Aquatic Animal Health Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 28, 2010
Publication Date: September 5, 2010
Citation: Darwish, A.M. 2010. Efficacy of florfenicol, copper sulfate and potassium permanganate in controlling a natural infection of Aeromonas hydrophila and Flavobacterium columnare in sunshine bass, Morone chrysops female x Morone saxatilis male [abstract]. International Aquatic Animal Health Symposium Proceedings. p.132.

Technical Abstract: Sunshine bass (Morone chrysops female ' Morone saxatilis male) naturally infected with Aeromonas hydrophila and Flavobacterium columnare were randomly assigned to six treatments: 1) two treatments of waterborne exposures to copper sulfate (CuSO4), at 2.1 and at 4.2 mg/L (approximately one and two percent the water alkalinity) for 24 h, 2) two treatments of waterborne exposures to potassium permanganate (KMnO4) at 2 mg/L [above the KMnO4 demand (PPD)] for 24 h and at 10 mg/L (above the PPD) for 1h, 3) a treatment of florfenicol-medicated feed at 15 mg/Kg of fish body weight (BW) for 10 d, and 4) non-treated fish acting as positive control. The fish were observed for 32 d. The non-treated positive control fish had 71% survival compared to, 88 and 79% survival for the CuSO4 treatments at 2.1 and at 4.2 mg/L, respectively, 72 and 77% survival for the KMnO4 treatments at 2 mg/L for 24 h and at 10mg/L for 1h, respectively, and 90% survival for the fish treated with florfenicol-medicated feed at 15 mg/Kg of fish BW for 10 d. The final survival of fish fed florfenicol-medicated feed (90%) was significantly higher (P<0.1) than the non-treated fish (71%). According to logrank comparison the survival curves of the florfenicol-medicated treatment and the CuSO4 treatment at 2.1 mg/L for 24 h were significantly different from the positive control fish; the rate of death was significantly higher in the positive control fish. This is the first controlled study to demonstrate the beneficial effect of florfenicol and CuSO4 against a mixed natural infection of A. hydrophila and F. columnare.