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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305776
Title: Potassium permanganate is not an effective pond disinfectant to control Dero digitata

Author
item MISCHKE, CHARLES - Mississippi State University
item GRIFFEN, MATT - Mississippi State University
item WISE, DAVID - Mississippi State University
item GREENWAY, TERRENCE - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2014
Publication Date: 5/19/2014
Citation: Mischke, C.C., Griffen, M.J., Wise, D.J., Greenway, T.E. 2014. Potassium permanganate is not an effective pond disinfectant to control Dero digitata. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 45:350-353.

Interpretive Summary: Proliferative gill disease (PGD) is a major problem in cultured channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. This parasite requires Dero digitata to complete its life cycle. It is believed potassium permanganate disinfects ponds and reduces D. digitata populations, but this practice has not been verified experimentally. We evaluated potassium permanganate as a pond disinfectant to reduce D. digitata populations before stocking fish. In the first study, 2 L catfish pond mud and 18 L pond water were placed in each of 16 20-L microcosms. Four microcosms were dosed at each of four potassium permanganate treatment levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/L). After treatment, D. digitata present in the sample were counted. In a second study, benthic populations were compared in 10 0.04 ha ponds before and after treatment with 20 mg/L potassium permanganate. In the microcosm study, all treatment levels significantly (P<0.05) reduced D. digitata populations relative to controls. However, in the field trial, there were no significant (P<0.05) differences pre- and post-treatment with potassium permanganate at 20 mg/L in Dero populations or total benthic organism populations. Although we believed such high levels of potassium permanganate would sterilize the pond, the results of the pond treatments in this study indicate otherwise.

Technical Abstract: Proliferative gill disease (PGD) is a major problem in cultured channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. This parasite requires Dero digitata to complete its life cycle. It is believed potassium permanganate disinfects ponds and reduces D. digitata populations, but this practice has not been verified experimentally. We evaluated potassium permanganate as a pond disinfectant to reduce D. digitata populations before stocking fish. In the first study, 2 L catfish pond mud and 18 L pond water were placed in each of 16 20-L microcosms. Four microcosms were dosed at each of four potassium permanganate treatment levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/L). After treatment, D. digitata present in the sample were counted. In a second study, benthic populations were compared in 10 0.04 ha ponds before and after treatment with 20 mg/L potassium permanganate. In the microcosm study, all treatment levels significantly (P<0.05) reduced D. digitata populations relative to controls. However, in the field trial, there were no significant (P<0.05) differences pre- and post-treatment with potassium permanganate at 20 mg/L in Dero populations or total benthic organism populations. Although we believed such high levels of potassium permanganate would sterilize the pond, the results of the pond treatments in this study indicate otherwise.