Background:
Infection with Aphanomyces invadans (also known as Epizootic ulcerative syndrome, EUS) is one of the most destructive diseases of freshwater fishes. The disease is of international concern especially in the developing world, and reportable to the World Organization for Animal Health. Similarly, infection with Saprolegnia parasitica is another devastating disease of freshwater fishes. There is no effective treatment for these diseases.:
Technology Details:
With an objective of developing an effective treatment, a detailed study has been conducted in studying the effect of different antifungal compounds against three life stages (zoospore production, germination of zoospores and growth of hyphae) of A. invadans and S. parasitica. Among several compounds evaluated, a few of them were found to be effective against these pathogens. Thereafter, a formulation named OoNIL was developed which is a combination of the compounds were found to be effective. The formulation OoNIL has been tested in 180 farms located at different parts of the country over a period of three years as both therapeutics and prophylactics. The farms in which OoNIL was used as therapeutics, following single application, the mortality stopped in most of the farms (in more than 85% of the farms), however farms in which the severity of disease was very high, two applications was required for curtailing the mortality. Importantly, in about 100 % of the pangas farms in which OoNIL was used as prophylactic treatment, no disease could be observed. Hence, based on the laboratory and field study results, it could be confirmed that the formulation OoNIL can be used for both as prophylactic and therapeutics purposes in controlling fish oomycete diseases.