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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183997
Title: THE EFFECT OF CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ON MELANOIDES TUBERCULATUS, A SNAIL THAT VECTORS AN IMPORTANT FISH TREMATODE

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/13/2005
Publication Date: 2/13/2006
Citation: Mitchell, A.J. 2006. The effect of chemical treatments on Melanoides tuberculatus, a snail that vectors an important fish trematode [abstract]. Aquaculture America 2006 Book of Abstracts. p. 190.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the United States, Melanoides tuberculatus is a nonindigenous aquatic snail that vectors a trematode infecting both cultured and wild fish species. This snail is now found in 16 states and among other ways is believed to be spread from place to place by the use of contaminated fisheries equipment. Because it has an operculum that can seal the snail in the shell and greatly slow the desiccation of the mantle, it can remain viable for some time on dry fisheries equipment. A study was set up to find chemical treatments (disinfectants) that would kill 100% of the M. tuberculatus under given test conditions. Fourteen different chemicals [Baquacil®, copper sulfate, endothol, ethanol, household bleach, formalin, Lysol®, hydrated lime (to adjust pH), niclosamide, potassium permanganate, Roccal®, sodium chloride, sulfuric acid (to adjust pH), and Virkon®] were evaluated in 1 h dip treatments at various chemical concentrations. Some of the most promising treatments were also evaluated for 10 min and 24 h exposures. No chemical treatment tested showed promise in the 10 min exposures. One hour treatments of Roccal® at 800 ppm and Virkon® at 1600 ppm and 24 h treatments of niclosamide at 2 ppm, Roccal® at 10 ppm and endothol at 40 ppm killed all snails tested. Of these, Roccal®, a disinfectant already used in fisheries, is the best candidate. It is of interest to note the treatments tested that did not kill all the snails tested. These included one-hour treatments of full strength household bleach (3 out of 10 snails survived), 70% ethanol (8 of 10), 10% concentrations of formalin fixative (2 of 10), Lysol® (3 of 10), and salt (9 of 10), 10,000 ppm Baquacil® (6 of 10), 1000 ppm concentrations of potassium permanganate (9 of 10), copper sulfate (6 of 10), and Virkon® (10 of 10) and 500 ppm endothol (3 of 10) and niclosamide (10 of 10). Some of the M. tuberculatus tested also survived for 1 h in waters adjusted to pHs of 1 (10 of 10) and 13 (1 of 10).