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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #268766
Title: Reduction of in vitro growth in Flavobacterium columnare and Saprolegnia parasitica by products containing peracetic acid

Author
item MARCHAND, PIERRE-ANDRE - Universite Catholique
item PHAN, THUY-MY - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries
item Straus, David - Dave
item Farmer, Bradley
item STUBER, ANGELIKA - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries
item MEINELT, THOMAS - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries

Submitted to: Aquaculture Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/22/2011
Publication Date: 10/30/2012
Citation: Marchand, P., Phan, T., Straus, D.L., Farmer, B.D., Stuber, A., Meinelt, T. 2012. Reduction of in vitro growth in Flavobacterium columnare and Saprolegnia parasitica by products containing peracetic acid. Aquaculture Research. 43:1861-1866.

Interpretive Summary: Peracetic acid (PAA) is used to disinfect wastewater, and to sterilize items for the food industry and hospitals. It is being studied for use in aquaculture as a therapeutant to treat various diseases. Peracetic acid is basically a mixture of acetic acid (very concentrated vinegar) and hydrogen peroxide (HP). There are many suppliers of PAA products, but each product contains different amounts of PAA and HP. This research compared the growth-reducing capabilities of seven commercial PAA products on bacteria (Flavobacterium columnare) that cause the problematic columnaris disease in fish and on a fungus (Saprolegnia parasitica) that causes damage to several life stages of fish. Commercial products with a higher concentration of PAA did not inhibit growth as well as products with lower PAA/higher HP concentrations.

Technical Abstract: Commercial products containing peracetic acid (PAA) are strong disinfectants with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity and have been suggested as potential therapeutic agents in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro reduction of growth on two fish pathogens, Flavobacterium columnare and Saprolegnia parasitica, by seven commercial PAA-containing products. Flavobacterium columnare was exposed to 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 PAA mg L-1 and S. parasitica was exposed to 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg L-1 PAA in petri dishes for 24 h incubation. The reduction of growth was measured in comparison to a PAA-free control. A reduction of the growth was observed for both pathogens with increasing PAA concentration. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) possibly has a role in the effectiveness of the products, since products with lower PAA concentrations had a higher concentration of HP. The commercial products with a low concentration of PAA and a low PAA:H2O2-ratio were generally more effective against pathogens. The practical application of the products with low PAA concentration should be prioritized.