Antec Virkon(R) S for Aquaculture Combats Infection Risk For First Feeders

By DuPont Animal Health Solutions - Now that salmon and trout eggs are near hatching, farmers will be getting hatching trays and first feeding troughs ready. As this signals a potential increase in the risk of infection, one of the key requirements is to thoroughly clean and disinfect all facilities, including the buildings themselves.

Antec Virkon(R) S for Aquaculture Combats Infection Risk For First Feeders - By DuPont Animal Health Solutions - Now that salmon and trout eggs are near hatching, farmers will be getting hatching trays and first feeding troughs ready. As this signals a potential increase in the risk of infection, one of the key requirements is to thoroughly clean and disinfect all facilities, including the buildings themselves.

Technical Bulletin:

Too often tanks and trays will be washed down without appreciating the need to disinfect the minute amounts of organic matter containing viruses or Flavobacteria that will be sequestered in scratches or pipe joins. These organisms are often the cause of infections such as IPN or myxobacterial fry disease in the first feeders.

Cleaning thoroughly is certainly a first requirement, but thereafter, spraying or soaking with ANTEC(R) Virkon(R) S for Aquaculture at 1:200 dilution will destroy viral and bacterial agents lurking in scratches on the tanks or in the pipework. Cleaning and then spraying walls and ceilings, as well as the concrete floors, is also essential. Where gravel floors are used, they should be raked and then ANTEC(R) Virkon(R) S for Aquaculture sprayed over the surface, which is then raked and sprayed again.

Emeritus Professor Ron Roberts of the University of Stirling comments, "Since the beginning of 2003, many of the largest salmon hatcheries in Scotland have used this strategy and following improvements in first feeding results, have now adopted it as a standard protocol."

Further details on hatchery hygiene and copies of the ANTEC(R) Virkon(R) S for Aquaculture biosecurity leaflet can be obtained by calling (+44) 01787 377305; e-mailing biosecurity@gbr.dupont.com or visiting the website www.ahs.dupont.com To ensure regulatory compliance please read the product label carefully.

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For further information on biosecurity for aquaculture production visit http://www.antecint.co.uk/main/aquacult.htm or visit http://www.antecint.com/ to access the world's largest biosecurity internet resource.

Source: DuPont Animal Health Solutions - February 2005