Does Abate Powder Effectively Control Goldfish Lice?

Abate solution is not effective to release fish lice from goldfish. there has been resistance or immunity in fish lice against the toxic power of compounds in abate powder.

Another reference states that soaking using formalin, NaCl, and malachite-green solutions is no longer effective in controlling fish lice. In addition, several other types of material reported are no longer effective for controlling fish lice: namely benzylureas, afoxalaners, and furalaners. However, there are still several types of compounds, such as trichlorfon, diflubenzuron, lufenuron, potassium permanganate, and emmamectin, which can still be used to control fish flea populations.

Organ damage in fish lice released from goldfish is the next observation in this study. The result, there is a loss in the legs of fish lice abdomen and premature egg production.

Organ loss in fish lice occurs due to the influence of active compounds contained in abate powder. It can irritate nerves, so that muscle paralysis occurs and results in the release of legs in fish lice. The fused part of the abdomen and premature egg production is one strategy to defend against unfavourable environmental conditions such as extreme temperature fluctuations, exposure to chemicals, or other causes that threaten the survival of fish lice.

Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that soaking the abate solution is not effective for controlling fish lice in goldfish and there was a morphological change in fish lice after exposure to the abate solution — namely, leg loss, fused abdomen, and premature egg production.

Knowing that the potential of goldfish and fish consumption has increased every year, this information is important to the public. It encourages fish farmers to intensify cultivation with high stocking densities to meet consumer demand.

The high stocking density of intensive system cultivation raises disease problems that harm the fish because of their high mortality rate in a short time. One of the pathogens that cause goldfish disease, namely Argulus, also known as “fish lice.” These fish lice will cause death in goldfish due to the emergence of open wounds on the skin and fish fins which become the entrance / port of entry for secondary infectious agents such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses.

The most effective control measures to prevent fish deaths due to fish lice attack, namely using insecticides. However, some types of insecticides have been banned because they have been proven toxic to fish and the environment, so an effective insecticide alternative is needed — one of them, abate powder.

Abate powder has been known as an insecticide to eradicate mosquito larvae, which are proven to be safe for the environment and widely applied by the community. Some references say abate is the safest insecticide for most species of fish and other vertebrates and does not cause residues in the body of exposed organisms. Including, abate has the potential to control the population of crustaceans, polichaeta, and mollusks.

Abate as an insecticide is very effective because of its ability to inhibit the action of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase by preventing hydrolysis and inactivation of acetylcholine in nerve fibers. So, there are obstacles to nerve signal transmission and damage to the sympathetic-parasympathetic nervous system, peripheral nerves, and the central nervous system. That results in a decreased ability of fish lice to stick to goldfish.

To prove the above argument, the immersion of goldfish that have been affixed with fish lice in abate powder solutions with concentrations ranging from 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 75 ppm, and 100 ppm for 30 minutes and counted the number of fish lice released from goldfish.

Author:

Mohammad Faizal Ulkhaq, S.Pi., M.Si.

Note:

Details of research available at:

Utilization of abate powder to demote the infestation and organ impairing degree of Argulus in gold fish (Cyprinus carpio)

Journal of Aquaculture and Fish Health Volume 8 nomor 1, 15-23

Mohammad Faizal Ulkhaq, Darmawan Setia Budi, Hapsari Kenconojati, Muhammad Hanif Azhar.