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Determining the tranquilization dose and residue of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) in sea bass Lates calcarifer tissue

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  • Aquaculture
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Abstract

Although tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) is often used to tranquilize fish, the guidelines for its use in sea bass, a brackish species, have not been established. The aim of the study reported here was to establish the tranquilizing concentration of MS-222, based on the time required for MS-222 residue elimination and withdrawal. Thirty-six fish (6/group) were immersed in different concentrations of MS-222 (0, 30, 50, 60, 70 and 90 mg/l) to evaluate the fish physiological behavior. After 200 fish were anesthetized at 90 mg/l, the fish achieved a healthy recovery within 72 h after the administration of saline. The 10 fish in the control group were subject to the same treatment without anesthesia, 3 out of 10 died. After 108 fish (54/group) were immersed in 30 or 60 mg/l of MS-222, the sedated fish were healthy during and after the 8 h of transport. However, all the 10 fish in the control group died within 3 days. By high-performance liquid chromatography, the residue of MS-222 was assessed. In the skinned muscle and liver, the elimination half-life was 5.54 and 5.27 h (30 mg/l) and 8.72 and 7.15 (60 mg/l), respectively, and the withdrawal time was at least 4.5 days at 30 mg/l and 7.5 days at 60 mg/l.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Fisheries Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taiwan (101AS-11.3.3-FA-F2) for funding the project. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. The authors declare that no competing financial interests have influenced the study.

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  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, No. 580, XinMin Rd., 60041, Chiayi, Taiwan

    Yi-Jing Xue, Chih-Cheng Chang, Jyh-Mirn Lai & Jiann Hsiung Wang

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  1. Yi-Jing Xue
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  2. Chih-Cheng Chang
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  3. Jyh-Mirn Lai
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Correspondence to Jyh-Mirn Lai.

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Xue, YJ., Chang, CC., Lai, JM. et al. Determining the tranquilization dose and residue of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) in sea bass Lates calcarifer tissue. Fish Sci 83, 625–633 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-017-1091-3

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