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| 10 February, 2012 |
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| Should other nations follow Alaska's lead in using aquaculture as part of a fishery enhancement programme? |
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First antibiotic in US for coldwater disease 22 March, 2007 -
AQUAFLOR® (florfenicol), the first new in-feed antibiotic licensed for US aquaculture in more than two decades, has become the first and only antibiotic approved for controlling mortality in freshwater-reared salmonids due to Flavobacterium psychrophilum (coldwater disease), which causes mortality rates of 30 to 45 percent annually in hatchery-reared trout and salmon. “The new claim for AQUAFLOR is really big news for our industry,” said John Bechtel, president of the US Trout Farmers Association. “It’s been a long, long time since we’ve had a new antibiotic — and we desperately need one. We really appreciate the effort and investment that Schering-Plough Animal Health has made to bring this product to our producers.” Developed by Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation, AQUAFLOR Type A Medicated Article has been proven worldwide to be effective against a wide range of bacteria in several aquatic species. It is also highly palatable and has an excellent safety profile for fish, human food and the environment. Unlike sulfa drugs and tetracyclines, this unique antibiotic was developed specifically for use in food animal species. Studies have shown that AQUAFLOR can be used in trout and other freshwater-reared salmonids, from sac fry to food fish, with no reduction in feed consumption or growth. The product’s short, 15-day withdrawal period gives producers ample flexibility when marketing fish. Effective against coldwater disease Trials conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have shown AQUAFLOR to be highly effective against coldwater disease. In steelhead trout, for example, fingerlings treated with AQUAFLOR had 60 percent less mortality than untreated controls, even though initiation of treatment was delayed far beyond what would be typical in most field situations. “Coldwater disease often results in prolonged, chronic mortality and is one of the most economically significant diseases of salmonid aquaculture — not just in the US, but also worldwide,” says Richard Endris, Ph.D., aquaculture research programme manager for Schering-Plough Animal Health. “In fingerlings and food fish, the disease produces lethargy, poor appetite and dark coloration,” he adds. “Infected fish can also develop spinal deformities, which reduce their value.” Trials have also shown that fish consume feed medicated with AQUAFLOR at the same rate as unmedicated feed — even when AQUAFLOR is used at 10 times the recommended dose rate. “The palatability of an antibiotic is extremely important because it ensures optimum feed and antibiotic intake during the critical treatment period,” Dr Endris says. “It also helps fish stay on feed in the face of a severe disease challenge.” www.fishfarmer-magazine.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publishes FISHupdate.com, FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.
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