Abstract
A total of 20 drugs were tested for their efficacy in the treatment of infections involving the two major acanthocephalans infesting rainbow trout in European trout farms. In in vitro experiments, the antidiarrhoeic loperamid and the well-known anthelminthic drug niclosamide showed the best efficacy. Worms treated with loperamid contracted the posterior end of their body, in which severe necrosis of the tegument caused the death of the worms. In in vivo experiments, loperamid was the most efficacious drug: 50 mg/kg given to rainbow trout on 3 consecutive days led to a complete cure. According to preliminary tolerance tests in water baths, the toxicity of this drug is low as compared with that of niclosamide, which is very toxic. Thus, loperamid can be recommended as the drug of choice for therapy of acanthocephalan infections in fish.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amin OM (1985) The relationship between the size of some salmonid fishes and the intensity of their acanthocephalan infections. Can J Zool 63:924–927
Mann H (1971) Schadwirkungen bei Forellen durch Befall mit Kratzern (Acanthocephalen). Inf Fischwirt 4:60–61
Moravec F (1984) Occurrence of endoparasitic helminths in carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) from the Macha Lake fishpond system. Věst Ĉesk Spol Zool 48:261–278
Muzzal PM (1980) Ecology and seasonal abundance of three acanthocephalan species infecting white suckers in Southeast New Hampshire. J Parasitol 66:127–133
Reichenbach-Klinke H (1954) Ruckgratverkrümmung bei Fischen nach Acanthocephalen (Kratzer)-Befall. Z Parasitenkd 16:253
Taraschewski H (1988) Host-parasite interface of fish acanthocephalans: I.Acanthocephalus anguillae (Palaeacanthocephala) in naturally infected fishes: LM and TEM investigations. Dis Aquat Org 4:109–119
Taraschewski H,(1989) Host-parasite interface ofParatenuisentis ambiguus (Eoacanthocephala) in naturally infected eel and in laboratory-infected sticklebacks and juvenile carp and rainbow trout. J Parasitol 75:911–919
Taraschewski H, Moravec F, Lamah T, Anders K (1987) Distribution and morphology of two helminths recently introduced into European eel populations:Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda, Dracunculoidea) andParatenuisentis ambiguus (Acanthocephala, Tenuisentidae). Dis Aquat Org 3:167–176
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Prof. Dr. G. Piekarski (Bonn) on occasion of his 80th anniversary (5. October 1990)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taraschewski, H., Mehlhorn, H. & Raether, W. Loperamid, an efficacious drug against fish-pathogenic acanthocephalans. Parasitol Res 76, 619–623 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932573
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932573