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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339770
Research Project: Pathogen Characterization, Host Immune Response and Development of Strategies to Reduce Losses to Disease in Aquaculture

Location: Aquatic Animal Health Research

Title: Commercial demonstration of kaolinitic clay for protection of Flavobacterium columnaris in sportfish

Author
item ROY, LUKE - Auburn University
item RENUKDAS, R. - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item KELLY, A - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item Barnett, Louis - Matt
item Beck, Benjamin
item HEIKES, DAVID - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item GLENNON, ROBERT - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item JONES, PHIL - Auburn University

Submitted to: Arkansas Bait Fish Farmers and Ornamental Fish Growers Association Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2017
Publication Date: 2/9/2017
Citation: Roy, L.A., Renukdas, R., Kelly, A.M., Barnett, L.M., Beck, B.H., Heikes, D., Glennon, R.P., Jones, P. 2017. Commercial demonstration of kaolinitic clay for protection of Flavobacterium columnaris in sportfish [abstract]. Arkansas Bait Fish Farmers and Ornamental Fish Growers Association Meeting. p.4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sportfish farms in Arkansas routinely battle Columnaris disease, which is caused by Flavobacterium columnare. Columnaris is especially prevalent during the feed training of centrarchids such as largemouth bass and immediately following harvest of crappie, redear sunfish, and bluegill while they are being held in load out sheds prior to being sold. Largemouth bass fingerlings are brought in from the pond and held indoors for several weeks in vats during the feed training process. A commercial research demonstration trial was devised with two commercial sportfish farms in Arkansas to test the efficacy of kaolin clay to prevent outbreaks of Columnaris. Kaolinitic clay (source: Imerys, Georgia, USA) was utilized as a prophylactic treatment for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. Participating producers treated vats of fish with 1 ppt kaolin and 0 ppt kaolin (control) as a prophylactic treatment and also during active Columnaris infections. Vats were treated on commercial farms and then samples of fish were brought to the UAPB Lonoke Fish Health Services Laboratory. Gills, fins, and tissues of treated and non-treated fish were examined visually for the presence of columnaris both before and after prophylactic treatment. Fish tissue samples were also sampled to confirm the presence/absence of Columnaris in fish receiving 0 or 1 ppt kaolinitic clay. The demonstration is currently ongoing (2017), however, preliminary data suggests that fish treated with kaolinitic clay while being feed trained and during holding periods prior to sale are having less incidences of Columnaris. In addition to farm demonstrations, three 72-hour lab trials were conducted with 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 ppt kaolin using channel catfish, largemouth bass, and black crappie to examine short-term survival and gill histology. Gills histology samples are currently being analyzed, however results of these trials revealed nearly 100% survival in all three species exposed to kaolin clay at levels up to 8 ppt for 48 hours (followed by a 24 hour recovery period in clean water).