Assessment of Aquaflor(®) , copper sulphate and potassium permanganate for control of Aeromonas hydrophila and Flavobacterium columnare infection in sunshine bass, Morone chrysops female × Morone saxatilis male.

Two experiments were conducted to test the effectiveness of different therapeutants against a mixed infection of Aeromonas hydrophila and Flavobacterium columnare in sunshine bass. Experiment 1 evaluated copper sulphate, florfenicol-medicated feed and potassium permanganate (KMnO(4) ) against a natural mixed infection. Experiment 2 further evaluated copper sulphate as a treatment to control an experimental mixed infection. In experiment 1, naturally infected untreated fish had the lowest final survival per cent, at 71%, while florfenicol-medicated feed at 15mgkg(-1) body weight for 10days or copper sulphate at 2.1mgL(-1) (1% of the total alkalinity) for 24h produced the highest final survivals, at 90% and 88%, respectively. The final survival of the naturally infected fish administered florfenicol-medicated feed was significantly different (P<0.1) from the untreated fish. The survival curves for the florfenicol and the copper sulphate at 2.1mgL(-1) were significantly improved from the untreated fish. In experiment 2, fish were challenged by waterborne exposure to A. hydrophila and F. columnare and either not treated or treated with copper sulphate at 2.1mgL(-1) . At the end of experiment 2, the per cent survival of the challenged fish treated with copper sulphate (99%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the non-treated (61%). The results illustrate clear benefit of florfenicol and copper sulphate against a mixed infection of A. hydrophila and F. columnare.