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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #244953
Title: The safety of Aquaflor® medicated feed to sunshine bass

Author
item Straus, David - Dave
item BOWKER, JAMES - Us Fish And Wildlife Service
item BOWMAN, MOLLY - Us Fish And Wildlife Service
item Mitchell, Andrew
item Farmer, Bradley

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/23/2009
Publication Date: 3/1/2010
Citation: Straus, D.L., Bowker, J.D., Bowman, M.P., Mitchell, A.J., Farmer, B.D. 2010. The safety of Aquaflor® medicated feed to sunshine bass [abstract]. Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America 2010. p.956.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aquaflor(C) (florfenicol) is a relatively new antibiotic used in U.S. aquaculture and has reached wide acceptance as a safe and effective therapeutant for its approved indications. A study was designed to determine its histological safety to sunshine bass when fed at the therapeutic rate of 15 mg florfenicol/kg body weight/day, and at 3 and 5 times this rate, for 20 days (2 times the normal treatment period). Fingerling sunshine bass were randomly stocked into 15 tanks (20 fish/tank). There were 4 replications/treatment, including a control treatment, and 3 surrogate tanks. The surrogate tanks were used to calculate the proper feeding rate. Tanks contained 100 L of flow-through well water. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen were measured daily and pH, alkalinity and hardness levels were recorded at the beginning and end of the study. The medicated feed was top-coated with Aquaflor® and fed at 2% body weight/day; feed was offered in the morning and afternoon. After the acclimation period, fish were fed their respective diets for 20 consecutive days. Fish were monitored for feeding activity, mortality, and morbidity. There were no mortalities and fish ate all feed offered (usually within 10 seconds). At the end of the study, fish (except surrogate fish) were euthanized, necropsied and examined by histopathology. Gross pathology examinations showed nothing unusual; histopathological examinations will be discussed.