Pandey et al. UJP 2013, 02 (02): Page 1-3 www.ujponline.com Review Article Universal Journal of Pharmacy ISSN 2320-303X TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN PARASITIC DISEASES OF FISHES *Professor/Principal Scientist & In-Charge, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Rewa The Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University (NDVSU), Jabalpur, MP, India Received 26-02-2013; Revised 10-03-2013; Accepted 12-04-2013 ABSTRACT
The parasitic infection may cause severe morbidity and mortality in fish. For example, the flagellates of the “Hexamita” parasite are often associated with high mortality in fish. The flagellate parasites interfere with nutrition by competing for essential nutrients and/or by damaging the intestinal epithelium. The ‘hexamitosis’ is probably the most frequent internal flagellate parasitosis of fish, notably in the young salmonids. The H. salmonis infected fish pass both trophozoites and cysts in faeces. Several drugs have been investigated for the treatment of parasite infection in different species of fish. However, the only oral pharmacological treatment of H. salmonis determined to date have been the drugs of nitroimidazole group, which show the activity against different protozoan groups,including flagellates and ciliates. The current treatmentof choice is dimetridazole or metronidazole in thefeed. The H. salmonis infection in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fish was completely eradicated not only by the metronidazole, but also by benznidazole, ronidazole and secnidazole. The four nitroimidazoles, e.g., albendazole, aminosidine, diethylcarbamazine and nitroscanate completely eliminated the parasite infection in the fish. Three drugs have been also been recommended for the treatment of protozoan parasitoses of fish, viz., amprolium, bithionol and toltrazuril. Among these three (amprolium, bithionol and toltrazuril), amprolium was found to be effective after oral administration; indeed, its administration by this route is recommended for myxosporidiosis. Bithionol and toltrazuril have been effective only in the bath treatments. Keywords: Disease, Antiparasitic Drugs, Fish, Parasites, Treatment. INTRODUCTION
often pathogenic only when the number of parasites present is very high3.
The intestinal infection of fish by many parasites can
The hexamitosis is probably the most frequent internal
cause severe morbidity and mortality. For instance, the
flagellate parasitosis of fish, notably in the young
flagellates of the Hexamita parasite are often
salmonids, though also in carp, aquarium species and
associated with high mortality in fish. Some workers
various marine fish. Heavily infected fish are weak,
have suggested that the pathological effects arise when
listless, anorexic and emaciated, so that the head of a
the host is weakened by other factors like inadequate
particular fish appears large with respect to the body
diet, change in diet, low oxygen content in the water,
(‘pinhead fish’). The affected fish typically swim on
overcrowding, inappropriate handling and/or keeping
their side, or with corkscrew movements. Populations
fish of different sizes together1. It has been suggested
affected by the acute hexamitosis show high mortality
that the flagellate parasites interfere with nutrition by
over a very short period, due to rapid multiplication of
competing for essential nutrients and/or by damaging
the parasite and associated damage to the intestinal
the intestinal epithelium2. In both salmonids and
epithelium. The chronic form of hexamitosis is likewise
tropical aquarium fish, the intestinal parasitoses are
common, and generally occurs between spring and
autumn; mortality per unit time is only slightly higher than in healthy fish, but severe losses may occur
Dr. Govind Pandey Professor/Principal Scientist & In-Charge,
because the situation continues for a period of weeks4.
Deptt. of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology,
In trout and other salmonid fish infected with Hexamita College of Veterinary Science & AH, Rewa salmonis parasite, the adverse effects commonly
(NDVSU, Jabalpur), MP. E-mail: [email protected]
observed are anaemia,weight loss5, dark coloration,
enteritis, excessive body mucus and yellowish intestinalUniversal Journal of Pharmacy, 02(02), Mar-Apr 2013 Pandey et al. UJP 2013, 02 (02): Page 1-3 www.ujponline.com
mucus (attributable to modified release of bile intothe
niclosamide, nitroxynil, oxibendazole, parbendazole,
piperazine, praziquentel, tetramisole, thiophanate,
haemorrhageand liver cell necrosis may also be
toltrazuril, trichlorfon and triclabendazole) were found
observed3. It is worth noting that the H. salmonis
not effective. The four nitroimidazoles (albendazole,
infected fish pass both trophozoites and cysts in
faeces4. The fish that appearto be heavily infected
completely eliminated the infection @ 5 g/kg feed for 2
(i.e., numerous parasites in thepyloric caecae and the
days 4. All nitroimidazoles except metronidazole were
intestine) may show no signs ofdamage to the mucosa,
effective even at the lower dose of 2 g/kg feed for 2
and no evidence of invasion ofthe epithelium by the
days. These results confirm the efficacy of these drugs
parasite. Cysts were not observed at any stage, even
when administered for a shorter period and at much
after subjecting samples to concentration methods
lower doses than the other drugs tested. The only non-
such as the Bailinger method. Cysts thus appear to be
nitroimidazole drugs that completely eliminated
infection were albendazole, aminosidine, diethyl
Several drugs have been investigated for the treatment
carbamazine and nitroscanate. Out of albendazole,
of parasite infection in different species of fish.
aminosidine, diethylcarbamazine and nitroscanate
However, the only oral pharmacological treatment of
H. salmonis determined to date have been the drugs of
recommended for the treatment of infection by H.
nitroimidazole group7-8,which show the activity against
salmonis is aminosidine (15 g/kg feed for 3 consecutive
different protozoan groups,including flagellates and
days)13. Nitroscanate appears to have a rather broad
ciliates. Therefore, the current treatmentof choice is
activity spectrum, since it has been shown to be
dimetridazole or metronidazole in thefeed3-4,9.
effective for bath treatment of Gyrodactylus14. Neither
Further, there have been few studies of the possible
albendazole nor diethylcarbamazine has previously
anti-Hexamita or antiparasitic effect of the drugs of
been shown to be effective for treatment of protozoan
other groups. Treatment for ectoparasitic diseases in
parasitoses of fishes. None of the antiparasitic drugs,
freshwater fish with formalin seems at present to be
viz., albendazole, aminosidine, diethylcarbamazine and
ineffective. Formalin possibly leaves toxic residues in
nitroscanate showed the negative effects (signs of
fish flesh and in the environment which are eventually
toxicity, behavioural effects, including anomalous
harmful to the consumers. The alternative way to solve
swimming movements, rejection of food), suggesting
this problem is to use traditional medicinal plants
that all four nitroimidazoles are viable options for the
instead10. The treatment with medicinal plants having
treatment of infection of salmonids by H. salmonis.
antibacterial activity is a potentially beneficial
This is of particular interest in view of the fact that H.
alternative in the aquaculture. These herbs mitigate
salmonis strains apparently resistant to metronidazole
many of the side effects which are associated with
synthetic antimicrobials. Additionally, the plant-
Three drugs have been also been recommended for the
derived phytomedicines provide a cheaper source for
treatment of protozoan parasitoses of fish, viz.,
treatment and greater accuracy than chemotherapeutic
amprolium8-9,13, bithionol6 and toltrazuril8-9,15. Of these,
agents. Recently, research has been initiated to
toltrazuril has been most widely used for the treatment
evaluate the feasibility of herbal drugs in fish
of parasitoses of fish, and indeed this drug has been
In view of the above facts, the present article
microsporidian and myxosporidian infections15. This
elucidates regarding some of the antiparasitic drugs
drug is not, however, effective for the treatment of
which have been cited for the treatment of certain
infestation by the ectoparasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifilils16. Among the amprolium, bithionol and
Some Antiparasitic Drugs against Fish Parasites: t
The results a study6 confirm the efficacy of
oral administration; indeed, its administration by this
nitroimidazoles against the parasitic diseases of fish. In
route is recommended for myxosporidiosis. Bithionol
this study, the H. salmonis infection in the rainbow
and toltrazuril have been shown to be effective only in
trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fish was completely
bath treatments. In a study of efficacy for the
eradicated not only by the metronidazole (which has
treatment of infestation by the flagellate Ichthyobodo
been recommended earlier for the treatment of
necator, complete elimination of infestation in all fish
hexamtosis), but also by benznidazole, ronidazole and
assayed was achieved after bathing with bithionol at
secnidazole (which have not been assayed previously).
25g 1-1 for 3 hr on 2 consecutive days, but not after
The non-nitroimidazoles, e.g. albendazole, amnosidine,
bathing with amprolium or toltrazuril17.
completely eliminated the infection. The remaining
recommended for oral treatment of H. salmonis
non-nitroimidazoles tested (amprolium, bithionol,
dimetndazole at the dose of 1.5 g/kg feed for 3 days13,
Universal Journal of Pharmacy, 02(02), Mar-Apr 2013 Pandey et al. UJP 2013, 02 (02): Page 1-3 www.ujponline.com
or at 15 g/kg feed for 4 to 7 days8. Metronidazole has
Oncorhynchus mykiss. I: Hexamita salmonis. Dis.
been recommended at doses of 0.5 mg/kg feed for 2
days7, 20 mg per/kg feed for 2 days4, or 1.5 g per/kg
7. Imamovic V. Parasites and parasitoses in fish in
feed for 3 days. Bath treatment with metronidazole has
some salmonid hatcheries in Bosnia-Hercegovina, I.
been recommended for infections with Trichodina, Ichthyobodo and Hexamita infections. Veterinaria
CONCLUSION
Chemotherapy of fish parasites. Parasitol. Res.,
Severe morbidity and mortality have been noticed by
the parasitic infection in fish. The ‘hexamitosis’
9. Stoskopf MK. Fish medicine. Philadelphia, PA: WB
(caused by H. salmonis parasite) is probably the most
frequent internal flagellate parasitosis of fish,
10. Chitmanat C, Tongdonmuan K, Nunsong W. The use
particularly in the young salmonids. The H. salmonis
of crude extracts from traditional medicinal plants
infected fish pass both trophozoites and cysts in faeces.
to eliminate Trichodina sp. in tilapia (Oreochromis
The oral treatment of this parasite can be done with
niloticus) fingerlings. Songklanakarin J. Sci.
the nitroimidazole group, which shows the activity
11. Madhuri S, Mandloi AK, Pandey Govind, Sahni YP.
flagellates and ciliates. Presently, the treatmentof
Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants
parasitic infection in fish can be done by dimetridazole
against fish pathogens. Int. Res. J. Pharm., 2012;
or metronidazole given with feed. The nitroimidazoles,
e.g., albendazole, aminosidine, diethylcarbamazine
12. Madhuri S, Shrivastav AB, Sahni YP, Pandey Govind.
and nitroscanate can completely eliminate the parasite
Overviews of the treatment and control of common
infection in the fish. Three drugs, viz., amprolium,
fish diseases. Int. Res. J. Pharm., 2012; 3(7): 123-
bithionol and toltrazuril have been also been
recommended for the treatment of protozoan
13. Herwig N, Garibaldi L, Wolke RE. Handbook of
drugs and chemicals used in the treatment of fish diseases. CC Thomas, Springfield, IL; 1979.
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Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared Universal Journal of Pharmacy, 02(02), Mar-Apr 2013
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