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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311382
Title: A little copper goes a long way for columnaris disease

Author
item Farmer, Bradley
item Beck, Benjamin
item MITCHELL, ANDREW - Retired ARS Employee
item Straus, David - Dave

Submitted to: University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Aquaculture Field Day
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2014
Publication Date: 10/2/2014
Citation: Farmer, B.D., Beck, B.H., Mitchell, A.J., Straus, D.L. 2014. A little copper goes a long way for columnaris disease. University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Aquaculture Field Day. p.31.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Columnaris disease is a costly bacterial disease of commercially grown channel catfish. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of pre-exposing channel catfish fingerlings to 0, ½, 1, or 2 times the recommended copper sulfate rate (1 % of the alkalinity which was 210mg/L CaCO3) for 24 h on their susceptibility to columnaris disease. Our research findings concluded that copper sulfate can reduce susceptibility to this disease if at least 24 h is allowed for the fish to recover from the copper sulfate exposure prior to the disease outbreak. It was also concluded that the effects of the copper sulfate pre-treatment last for at least a week. These results should assist fish farmers by allowing for better management of columnaris disease.