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Treatment of fish parasites

9. Effects of a medicated food containing malachite green onIchthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet, 1876 (Hymenostomatida, Ciliophora) in ornamental fish

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Abstract

For systemic therapy against trophozoites of the skin-inhabiting stage ofIchthyophthirius multifiliis in ornamental fish, the latter were fed medicated food flakes containing malachite green once daily for 1–11 days ad libitum. Naturally or artificially infected cardinal tetras (Paracheirodon axelrodi), blue gouramis (Trichogaster trichopterus), or clown loach (Botia macracantha) were used in the trials. The fish were maintained in aerated 12.5- or 60-1 aquaria at 23°C. Ultrastructural investigations (scanning and transmission electron microscopy) revealed clear deleterious effects of malachite green on the parasitic stages. Following the initial application, the inner membrane of the mitochondria was destroyed. In fish fed for 2 days, aggregation of the mucocysts and polymerization the microtubules within the macronucleus occurred. Finally, the trophozoite's membrane was completely destroyed. In fish fed for 4 days, the medicated food killed all trophozoites ofI. multifiliis. Sensitive ornamental fish (e.g.,P. axelrodi) showed no adverse effects after they had been fed with only the medicated food flakes for 2 months. Therefore, the oral administration of malachite green using this newly developed medicated food considerably reduces the risk of toxic effects on the fish hosts, which are sometimes caused by malachite green following its application by immersion therapy. The feeding of flakes medicated with malachite green provides an easy-to-handle and highly effective treatment ofI. multifiliis in ornamental fish.

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Abbreviations

C :

cilium

CD :

core of electron-dense material

CY :

cytoplasm

DV :

digestive vacuole

E :

erythrocyte

EG :

electrondense granules

EL :

electron-lucent hole

F :

fold

FL :

focal lysis of the cytoplasm

HA :

heterochromatin aggregation

HG :

heterophilic granulocyte

I :

interruption of the outer membrane

IM :

inner alvcolar membrane

K :

knobbed end of a cilium

LC :

lymphocyte

MA :

macrophage

MC :

monocyte

MI :

mitochondrion

MN :

macronucleus

MT :

microtubules

MU :

mucocyst

N :

nucleus

NG :

neutrophilic granulocyte

OB :

ovoid body

OM :

outer alveolar membrane

PP :

pseudopodial protrusion

PS :

parasomal sac

R :

ribosome

T :

trophozoite

V :

vacuolization caused by treatment

VA :

vacuole

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Spezielle Zoologie und Parasitologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Postfach 102148, W-4630, Bochum, Germany

    Günter Schmahl, Silke Ruider & Heinz Mehlhorn

  2. Tetra-Werke, Dr. rer. nat. Ulrich Baensch GmbH, Postfach 1580, W-4530, Melle 1, Germany

    Hartmut Schmidt & Günter Ritter

Authors
  1. Günter Schmahl
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  2. Silke Ruider
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  3. Heinz Mehlhorn
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  4. Hartmut Schmidt
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  5. Günter Ritter
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Schmahl, G., Ruider, S., Mehlhorn, H. et al. Treatment of fish parasites. Parasitol Res 78, 183–192 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931725

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