A little copper goes a long way for columnaris disease

Authors: Farmer, Bradley; Beck, Benjamin; Mitchell, Andrew; Straus, David - Dave

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts-Food Security for the Future: The Role of Aquatic Health
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/28/2015
Publication Date: 10/22/2015
Citation: Farmer, B.D., Beck, B.H., Mitchell, A.J., Straus, D.L. 2015. A little copper goes a long way for columnaris disease [abstract]. Book of Abstracts-Food Security for the Future: The Role of Aquatic Health, October 22-23, 2015, Mississippi state University. p. 16

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 210 mg/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.