Florfenicol in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr: tolerance and assessment of efficacy against furunculosis

Abstract. The efficacy of florfenicol against laboratory‐induced infection with Aeromonas salmonicida was tested in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr. Medication at three dose levels in the feed was started 24 h after bath challenge with A. salmonicida. The specific mortality rate in the unprote...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Fish Diseases
Main Authors: INGLIS, V., RICHARDS, R. H., VARMA, K. J., SUTHERLAND, I. H., BROKKEN, E. S.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1991
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.1991.tb00831.x
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2761.1991.tb00831.x
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2761.1991.tb00831.x
Description
Summary:Abstract. The efficacy of florfenicol against laboratory‐induced infection with Aeromonas salmonicida was tested in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr. Medication at three dose levels in the feed was started 24 h after bath challenge with A. salmonicida. The specific mortality rate in the unprotected infected control group was 75% compared with 5, 13 and 17% when florfenicol was given at dose levels of 20, 10 and 5 mg per kg body weight per day, respectively. Florfenicol was palatable to the fish at doses in excess of effective therapeutic levels and feeding for 10 days at 100 mg per kg, or for prolonged periods at 50 mg per kg and 10 mg per kg, resulted in no feeding problems or histopathological abnormalities. Florfenicol appears to have a good therapeutic index and considerable potential in the control of furunculosis in salmon.