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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Orono, Maine » National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #345692
Research Project: Genetic Improvement Of Marine Fish and Shellfish

Location: National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center

Title: Treatment of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) infected with Gyrodactylus cyclopteri (Scyborskaya 1948)

Author
item Pietrak, Michael
item BACKMAN, STEVEN - Skretting

Submitted to: Journal of Fish Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2017
Publication Date: 1/19/2018
Citation: Pietrak, M.R., Backman, S. 2018. Treatment of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) infected with Gyrodactylus cyclopteri (Scyborskaya 1948). Journal of Fish Diseases. 41:721-723.

Interpretive Summary: The use of lumpfish to control sea lice on commercial salmon farms has resulted in a significant increase in the culture and husbandry of lumpfish. This growing culture relies primarily on the use of wild caught brood stock and risks exposure to numerous pathogens brought in on these animals. After experiencing an outbreak of a parasitic worm on the skin and fins of lumpfish being cultured at the National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center, ARS scientists conducted a series of studies to evaluate the efficacy of several common treatments for parasitic worms on fish. The studies demonstrated that freshwater and hydrogen peroxide were more effective than the standard treatment of formalin and none of the three treatments appeared to significantly impact the exposed fish.

Technical Abstract: The use of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) to control sea lice on commercial salmon farms has resulted in a significant increase in the culture and husbandry of lumpfish. This growing culture relies primarily on the use of wild caught brood stock and risks exposure to numerous pathogens brought in on these animals. The USDA ARS National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center (NCWMAC) experienced an outbreak of Gyrodactylus cyclopteri (Scyborskaya 1948). Two in vitro studies were conducted to look at the efficacy of doses of formalin from 80-250 mg L-1, of 200 - 1500 mg L-1 of hydrogen peroxide and water between 0-15 ppt to kill G. cyclopteri. All of the doses of hydrogen peroxide, brackish (4 ppt) and fresh (0 ppt) water were more effective at killing G. cyclopteri than 250 mg L-1 of formalin. A safety study was conducted to expose lumpfish to 200 mg L-1 formalin, 200 mg L-1 hydrogen peroxide, and brackish water. None of the three treatments appeared to significantly impact the exposed fish.