Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #342715
Research Project: The Role of Mucosal Surfaces and Microflora in Immunity and Disease Prevention

Location: Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr

Title: Periodic bacterial control with peracetic acid in a recirculating aquaculture system and its long-term beneficial effect on fish health

Author
item LIU, DIBO - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries
item Straus, David - Dave
item PEDERSEN, LARS-FLEMMING - Technical University Of Denmark
item MEINELT, THOMAS - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries

Submitted to: Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2017
Publication Date: 11/28/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5874082
Citation: Liu, D., Straus, D.L., Pedersen, L., Meinelt, T. 2017. Periodic bacterial control with peracetic acid in a recirculating aquaculture system and its long-term beneficial effect on fish health. Aquaculture. 485:154-159.

Interpretive Summary: Our research is intended to introduce peracetic acid (PAA) as a disinfectant to use in enclosed, recirculating aquaculture systems. A benefit of using PAA in these systems is that it breaks down rapidly to water and vinegar. We looked at the effect of introducing a low dose of PAA twice a week when the water flow was stopped to fish-holding tanks in a system, compared to tanks not treated with PAA, to see what effects it had on the bacterial load of the water and internally to the fish; the fish were mirror carp. Use of PAA lowered bacterial growth in the water dramatically and improved the health of the fish. We conclude that regular doses of PAA can be used to keep fish raised in these systems healthy.

Technical Abstract: Peracetic acid (PAA) is being introduced to aquaculture as a sustainable disinfectant. It is suitable for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) because of the low effective concentrations and its minimal impact on biofilter function. The application of PAA in a RAS has a combined impact on fish and microbial activities. In the present study, adult mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio variety specularis) were challenged biweekly with increased bacterial density caused by a 3-h interruption of the water flow in a RAS. There was a positive control group (8 tanks) and a group treated with 1 mg L-1 PAA concurrent to the interruptions of water flow (8 tanks). During the water flow interruptions, the total aerobic bacterial density increased up to six-fold in the positive control, while it decreased by 90% in the PAA-treated group. In fish, the concurrent PAA treatments resulted in a modulated stress response, stronger respiratory burst of trunk kidney leucocytes in response to a standard stimulant, and eventually improved gill health. This research demonstrates that regular applications of PAA in a RAS are beneficial for fish health by effectively controlling the bacterial density and preventing/minimizing potential infections.