Acanthocephalans are endoparasites of several vertebrate species. These parasites are able to attach the host intestine, which culminates in low nutrient utilization and severe economic losses. This review discusses the impact of acanthocephalosis for aquaculture and demonstrates promising control and treatment measures against this parasitosis. Echinorhynchus truttae was considered one of the main parasites affecting salmonids; however, there are currently no scientific data on relevant outbreaks of this parasitosis. It is emphasized that, currently, the disease caused by Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae in tambaqui Colossoma macropomum is the fish acanthocephalosis with the strongest impact, besides being one of the most important acanthocephalosis affecting animal production worldwide. It has been noted that this disease has direct correlation with an environment replete with contaminated zooplankton and biosafety failures. Amongst revised synthetic chemotherapeutics, carbon tetrachloride and loperamide are described as being strongly efficient against E. truttae, and levamisole has been the most studied molecule for N. buttnerae. Considering the demand for alternative molecules, studies have shown that thyme, garlic and peppermint are promising against acanthocephalans. It must be emphasized a great need for standardization of in vitro and in vivo tests, as well as the need for studies on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. As prospects to control acanthocephalosis, we highlight the need for development of innovative aquaculture environments (biofloc and recirculation systems) that can prevent or extinguish the intermediate host, new methods of drug inclusion in the diet and genetic studies aiming improvement of resistant fish lineage and even the genome description of the parasite.
The production of tambaqui Colossoma macropomum has been undergoing financial losses due to parasitic infection by the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae, raising an alert for aquaculture in South America. The lack of adequate treatment and use of unlicensed chemicals encourages research for alternative solutions with minimal side effects. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vitro antiparasitic potential of commercial nutraceutical products (Natumix® and BioFish®) against N. buttnerae and to assess the respective in vivo toxic effects on the host tambaqui. For in vitro assays, parasitized fish were necropsied for acanthocephalans sampling. The parasites were exposed to three concentrations (0.078, 0.313 and 1.25 mg/ml) of each product, as well as controls (one without product and another with a solubilizer). For the in vivo acute toxicity test, juvenile fish (<0.1 g) were exposed to five increasing concentrations of each product. Mortality of tambaqui was recorded at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The estimated lethal concentration (LC) for 10, 50, 90 and 99% of fish was determined to classify the toxicity of the products on the target species. After in vitro efficacy tests, the highest concentrations (1.25 mg/ml) caused 100% mortality of the parasites in both products, but only Natumix® caused 100% mortality using the intermediate concentration (0.313 mg/ml) after 24 h. According to the acute toxicity result, the LC50 classified the nutraceutical products as slightly toxic for tambaqui. The tested products had a parasiticidal effect on N. buttnerae, and the toxicity test showed that both products have therapeutic potential when added to the diet.
The production of tambaqui Colossoma macropomum has reached a milestone in South American aquaculture, being the most farmed native fish in the continent (IBGE, 2018; Valladão, Gallani, & Pilarski, 2018). The farming of tambaqui is encouraged in several tropical countries because the species presents many advantages amenable to intensive farming (e.g. domesticable, omnivorous and easily reproduced). However, parasitism caused by acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae is a serious problem for tambaqui
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