Amyloodinium ocellatum exists in its parasitic stage as a trophont (feeding form), Figure 1. This trophont is attached via anchor-like roots and can infest the gills, fins and body of the host fish. When the trophont has matured (average size 80 - 100+ microns), it falls free of the host and forms a tomont, Figure 2. This tomont, an encysted stage which falls to the bottom of the tank, subdivides internally and can form as many as 200+ infective stages. These infective stages excyst (hatch) as dinospores (commonly called swarmers), Figure 3, and are the infective stage. These swarmers actively swim through the water column searching for a new host. The duration of this life cycle is temperature dependent, as is trophont size and tomont fecundity, and can range from seven to as many as twenty days.
How can Amyloodinium ocellatum be controlled?
There are three methods by which A. ocellatum can be controlled: chemical treatment, flushing, and filtration.
CHEMICAL TREATMENT:
No FDA approved chemicals are available as theraputents against this parasite in food fish production. However, research has identified several chemicals shown to have reasonable success in its control. Benzalkonium chloride and ionic copper are the most effective at dislodging trophonts from affected fish. These chemicals do not however kill the encysted tomont stage. In order to clear fish of detrimental levels of this parasite, repetitive doses are required, and this only keeps the parasite under control. Benzalkonium chloride is illegal for any use in food fish production, and ionic copper is only registered with the EPA for use as an algaecide.
FLUSHING:
Flushing of production systems is another means of minimizing infestation levels of A. ocellatum. This is effective by physically removing the encysted tomont stage before it has had the opportunity to excyst. It is important when implementing treatment flushing that the water being removed from the system be withdrawn
from the tank bottom where tomonts accumulate. When flushing, a minimum of six tank volumes per day should be exchanged. This may need to be increased depending on water temperature, density of fish in the production unit, salinity, and the degree of parasite infestation.
FILTRATION:
The best method to date in the control of A. ocellatum infestations in intensive aquaculture production systems is filtration. This physically removes the tomont stage from the production system while allowing for minimal water exchange. Filtration on a commercial scale in intensive recirculating aquaculture can be accomplished via microscreen, drum or bead filters. While microscreen/drum filters generally have a direct filtrate stream exiting the system, bead filters do not. As such, it is imperative that the bead filters be backwashed a minimum of one time per day. System volume should be filtered at least once per hour, and down to at least fifty microns. In research or hatchery environments, cartridge or di
atomaceous earth filters may also be economically employed to control this parasitic disease.
Also..copper will kill LR
