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Studies on the use of hydrogen peroxide as a method for the control of sea lice on Atlantic salmon

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Abstract

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolts exposed to 1.23‰ hydrogen peroxide for 20 min at 13.5 ‡C suffered an acute toxicity resulting in a 35% mortality within 2 h. Under similar conditions at 10 ‡C no mortalities were observed with Atlantic salmon or goldsinny wrasse (Ctenolabrus rupestris). No histological changes were noted in tissues from exposed fish. Thirty-three per cent of adult and pre-adult sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) were immobilized or killed following exposure to 0.5‰ hydrogen peroxide at 10 ‡C, rising to 98% at 2‰. Some lice were able to recover and regained normal swimming movements. Gas bubbles within the haemolymph caused affected lice to float on the water surface. A delay in the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide to copepodites occurred, with a 10% mortality following a 20 min exposure to 1.25‰ at 10 ‡C rising to 100% mortality at 19 h post treatment.

Dilute hydrogen peroxide was stable over the 20 min treatment period. Aeration and higher temperatures increased the long-term breakdown of a working concentration of hydrogen peroxide in seawater.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, PO Box 101, AB9 8DB, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

    D. W. Bruno & R. S. Raynard

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  1. D. W. Bruno
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  2. R. S. Raynard
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Bruno, D.W., Raynard, R.S. Studies on the use of hydrogen peroxide as a method for the control of sea lice on Atlantic salmon. Aquacult Int 2, 10–18 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118529

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