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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #123857
Title: EFFECTIVENESS OF POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE FOR TREATING CHANNEL CATFISH INFECTED WITH ICH.

Author
item Straus, David - Dave
item Griffin, Billy

Submitted to: Catfish Channel
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2001
Publication Date: 7/1/2001
Citation: STRAUS, D.L., GRIFFIN, B.R. EFFECTIVENESS OF POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE FOR TREATING CHANNEL CATFISH INFECTED WITH ICH.. CATFISH CHANNEL. 2001. v.39. p.2-3.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ich or whitespot disease is caused by an external protozoan parasite (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) that invades the skin and gills of freshwater fish. The life cycle of Ich usually takes 5 - 7 days depending on water temperature and involves a microscopic infective stage (theront) that burrows into the skin or gill of fish to feed on mucus and tissue. Killing the infective free-swimming theront or the detached trophont with various anti-protozoal drugs can stop the reproductive cycle and prevent spread of the disease to other fish. Juvenile channel catfish were exposed to an Ich infested fish until they developed immature trophonts. They were then moved to individual glass containers with 1/2 gal of well water and were treated with doses of KMnO4 ranging from 0 to 1.5 ppm daily; water was exchanged daily before treatment. The study was ended when the control fish (0 ppm KMnO4) died on Day 10. The lowest dose of KMnO4 that completely eliminated the Ich was 1.25 ppm.