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Fish Jumping March 2007 ~ Volume 59
Coordinator:
Frank G. Stone 
(715-682-6185) Ext. 12
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Email: Frank_Stone@fws.gov		 Edited By:
Elizabeth W. Greiff 
(715-349-2195) Ext. 5141
St. Croix Tribal Nat. Res. Depart.
Email:  bethg@stcroixtribalcenter.com

Topics Of Interest:

*  VHS, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:

*  New Updates; Hydrogen Peroxide, Oxytetracycline, Chloramine-T

National Fish Hatchery System Addresses Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia
By Dr. Robert S. Bakal, USFWS

Emerging conservation problems require immediate attention. Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, or VHS, is one such issue.

This viral fish disease has recently caused major episodes of fish die offs in the Great Lakes. Scores of game and non game species died in droves in spring and early summer of 2006 in several waters in the Great Lakes. Large fish kills were reported in the U.S. and Canada.

To address this issue, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Division of the National Fish Hatchery System convened an international body of fish health and fishery management experts in August to address VHS. They gathered at the Service’s Great Lakes-Big Rivers regional office in Minneapolis to share what is known about this new virus in the Great Lakes, and charted an immediate course to learn more and direct future fishery management needs and research.

A leading expert on VHS in the United States, Jim Winton of the US Geological Survey, indicated that the VHS virus exists in four strains, with a single, unique substrain occurring in the Great Lakes. The VHS virus has been known in Europe, Japan, and the coasts of the U.S. for many years; how it came to occur in the Great Lakes is not known. Winton speculates that it may have originated in ballast water from oceangoing ships sailing into the Great Lakes, or that it may have hitchhiked in shipments of hatchery raised fish. Though the virus’s origin remains unknown, Winton said that the virus’s lack of genetic diversity in the Great Lakes indicates that it probably has only recently arrived to Great Lakes waters.

The virus could move through the Great Lakes to new species of fish that so far have not shown vulnerability to the disease, and it could move to new waters. The virus will probably persist in low levels and some fish will carry the virus without disease symptoms, much like a person can carry a cold virus without actually catching a cold. But those carriers can spread it, which can be a problem in stemming the spread.

Scientists expect the disease to spread in the contiguous Great Lakes and possibly into tributary streams; more fishkills are to be expected, but it could be that in time, further outbreaks will be attenuated as surviving fish exposed to the virus become immune. Further outbreaks of the disease may be less explosive than that which unfolded in early 2006.

Inoculating fish in the wild to prevent the spread of disease is simply impossible. From this Minneapolis meeting, the attending scientists determined there is much to be learned about VHS, both from a biological and environmental standpoint. They also determined that containment in the Great Lakes is paramount. Fisheries professionals should use Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point planning, or HACCP, to prevent the spread of the virus.  HACCP is a simple and orderly strategic planning tool that helps identify and manage risks in natural resources management. Recreational boaters and anglers should clean and disinfect their craft and gear much like they are already encouraged to do to stop hitchhiking aquatic nuisance species.

The full effect of this viral disease remains to be seen. But what is known is the economic impact from large die-offs of important game fishes like trophy muskellunge, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch in the Great Lakes region could be profound.

Commercial fisheries are also likely to be harmed.

Of the 12 known species impacted by the disease, only two species were not game fishes. The affects of VHS to endangered species conservation could be equally profound, all underscoring the immediacy of this conservation problem.

Robert Bakal, DVM, is the Aquatic Animal Health Coordinator, Division of the National Fish Hatchery System. He can be reached at robert_bakal@fws.gov or call 919-513-6851.

 

APHIS Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Emergency Order – Impacts on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Operations

What does the APHIS emergency order state?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an emergency order prohibiting the importation of certain live fish from two Canadian provinces into the U.S. and the interstate movement of the same species between eight states bordering the Great Lakes due to outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). VHS does not pose a risk to people but can be highly destructive to certain species of fish. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2006/10/vhsfish.shtml

What is VHS?
VHS is a destructive viral disease that can cause internal hemorrhaging and death in fish. The disease does not pose a risk to people, but it has been detected in a number of fish species previously not known to be susceptible including baitfish species, Coho salmon and channel catfish. A list of susceptible fish species can be found at the APHIS web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/aqua/pdf/vhs_susceptible_species.pdf

Will the APHIS emergency order impact the Service’s ability to meet its treaty obligations to Native American tribes in the Great Lakes?
No. The Service’s stocking of lake trout and other Great Lakes fish species in accordance with Native American treaties will not be affected by the APHIS order. The list of VHS susceptible fish species do not include the fish species stocked under our treaty obligations.

How is the Fish and Wildlife Service responding to APHIS emergency order?
The Fish and Wildlife Service has processes in place to insure that its fish management programs will not contribute to VHS infections in managed populations. The Fish and Wildlife Service will have representatives on the stakeholder team that will assist APHIS in developing an interim rule on VHS susceptible fish stocks. The Fish and Wildlife Service will also assist the states and APHIS with surveillance through the National Wild Fish Health Survey.

Will the Service’s sea lamprey control efforts be affected by the APHIS emergency order?
No. One key element of the sea lamprey control program, which the Service conducts as an agent of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, is the release of sterilized male lamprey into the Saint Mary's River in Michigan. Since sea lamprey are not on the list of VHS susceptible species, this rule does not affect the Sea Lamprey Control program. The Service’s sterile male lamprey program has reduced the total lamprey population to a point where we are beginning to see signs of lake trout restoration in Lake Huron. Currently, the populations of sterile lamprey are undergoing fish health screening for all reportable pathogens.

Will the Service’s aquatic species restoration programs in the Great Lakes be affected by the APHIS emergency order?

  • The restoration of endangered native mussels in the Upper Mississippi River watershed by the Genoa National Fish Hatchery will be affected by the APHIS order. Walleye – listed as VHS susceptible fish by APHIS – are used as host fish for the larvae of native mussels such as the Higgins’ eye pearly mussel. The Service will work with APHIS to help develop an interim rule that allows resumption of this mussel restoration effort in the Upper Mississippi River.
  • Lake trout and other native species the Service stocks into the Great Lakes, such as coaster brook trout, are not included on APHIS list of VHS susceptible species. Restoration of these species will not be affected by the APHIS order.
  • Service support of state agency stocking programs by federal fish hatcheries will not otherwise be impacted. Service programs to restore other endangered, threatened and declining aquatic species are not presently affected by the APHIS emergency order.

What role does the Fish and Wildlife Service play in managing Great Lakes fish populations?
The Service is a participating member of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission's Fish Health Committee, an intergovernmental, interagency group responsible for coordinating regional efforts in the Great Lakes basin to prevent introduction and dissemination of communicable fish diseases. The Service, in its partnerships with state and other federal agencies, cooperates by lending its expertise to build sustainable fisheries, recover endangered and threatened species, and sustain healthy ecosystems and habitats.

 

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in the Great Lakes Region
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus is an extremely serious pathogen of fresh and saltwater fish, and is causing an emerging disease in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. VHS has been found specifically in the waters of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River. Due to its high mortality and severe economic consequences, VHS is classified as a reportable disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

In the past, VHS was thought to be a concern only for trout and a few other freshwater fish raised for commercial aquaculture in Europe. However, the recent outbreak in the Great Lakes region appears to be a new strain of the virus. This new strain is responsible for dieoffs in the following species: muskellunge, smallmouth bass, northern pike, freshwater drum, gizzard shad, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, rock bass, white bass, redhorse sucker, bluntnose sucker, round goby, and walleye.

How VHS was transferred to the Great Lakes or how long it has been in the ecosystem is not known. The disease transmits easily between fish of all ages. Mortality is highest at low water temperatures between 37 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Some fish will show no external signs while others show signs that include bulging eyes, bloated abdomens, inactive or overactive behavior, and hemorrhaging in the eyes, skin, gills, and at the base of the fins. Infected fish may also have lesions that look like those caused by other fish diseases. Therefore, testing is necessary to determine whether the fish is infected.

Sport fishermen and recreational boaters are asked to adhere to good biosecurity practices while fishing or boating in waters where VHS has been found. Thoroughly clean fishing equipment, boats, and trailers before using them in a new body of water and do not transfer fish from one body of water to another.

How You Can Protect Your Facility From VHS
Although VHS has yet to be detected in aquaculture facilities, individuals responsible for the movement of VHS susceptible species, regardless of origin, should take these steps to protect their facilities:

  • Request a health certificate stating that those fish have been tested and are free of VHS prior to movement.
  • Enact appropriate biosecurity measures within your facility to prevent the spread of this, and other, infectious pathogens. Some elements of a biosecurity plan include:
    • Cleaning and disinfection
    • Controlling the movements of people, animals, vehicles, and equipment
    • Isolating new and returning (e.g., brood stock) fish
    • Controlling effluent discharges
    • Conducting audits to evaluate implementation and effectiveness of the biosecurity plan.
  • Stay alert for more information about the disease, particularly the names of species newly found to be susceptible.  If you suspect VHS, you should immediately report all findings to the State department of agriculture or fish and game department in your area.

Additional Information
For more information about VHS and steps to protect your facility, please contact: Dr. Jill Rolland: (301) 734-7727 E-mail: Jill.B.Rolland@aphis.usda.gov or Dr. Gary Egrie: (301) 734-0695 E-mail: Paul.G.Egrie@aphis.usda.gov

 

APHIS ~ Fact Sheet, Veterinary Services November 2006
Questions and Answers About Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Federal Order
 Q. What is VHS?

A. VHS is a highly contagious pathogen of fresh and saltwater fish. It causes clinical signs including internal hemorrhaging and death in susceptible species. Some fish will show no external signs while others show signs including bulging eyes, bloated abdomens, inactive or overactive behavior, and hemorrhaging in the eyes, skin, gills, and at the base of the fins. Infected fish may also have lesions that look like those caused by other fish diseases. Therefore, testing is necessary to determine whether fish are infected. VHS has been reported in several of the Great Lakes and related tributaries where a number of large scale die-offs of wild fish have occurred. The disease does not pose a risk to people, but the VHS virus has been found to infect at least 37 fish species.

Q. How did VHS arrive in the Great Lakes area?

A. It is not known how the disease arrived in the Great Lakes area. In the past, VHS was thought to be a concern only for trout and a few other freshwater fish raised for commercial aquaculture in Europe. The disease was first detected in Lake Ontario in 2005 and has since been detected in Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River, as well as Conesus Lake. As a result of additional research, we now know that the disease was present in Lake St. Clair as early as 2003. Before being detected in the Great Lakes area, VHS was limited in North America to saltwater finfish from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The recent outbreak in the Great Lakes region appears to be a new strain of the virus. This new strain is responsible for die-offs in many freshwater species.

Q. What initial action did the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) take in response to this disease threat?

A. On Oct. 24, 2006, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an emergency order prohibiting the importation of 37 species of live fish from two Canadian provinces into the United States and the interstate movement of the same species from the eight states bordering the Great Lakes. The emergency order was issued in response to the rapid spread of VHS in the Great Lakes region. In addition, the Great Lakes strain of the virus impacts a greater number of fish species.

Q. Why did USDA revise the initial Federal Order?

A. Following the release of this emergency order, APHIS held a meeting to discuss VHS and the development of a federal regulatory program. During this meeting, APHIS received several recommendations from participants regarding modifications to the Federal Order that could be made to alleviate impacts on industry and related businesses in the Great Lakes region while still protecting against the spread of VHS. On Nov. 14, 2006, APHIS modified the Federal Order to allow live fish of VHS susceptible species to move from the eight states bordering the Great Lakes provided that certain conditions are met. With the exception of salmonids, the movement of VHS susceptible species from Quebec and Ontario, Canada into the United States remains prohibited under the Federal Order.

Q. Has VHS been found in commercially raised fish in the United States?

A. No. Detections of VHS have been limited in North America to the wild oceangoing and freshwater fish. The goal of the Federal Order is to prevent the spread of the disease to aquaculture facilities.

Q. What States are included in the amended Federal Order and why?

A. The following states are included in the Federal Order: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The states of New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio have experienced fish die offs due to VHS. While such die offs have not been observed in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, these states are considered to be at risk of having the disease because they too are part of the Great Lakes watershed and unimpeded natural fish movements between these bodies of water can spread the disease. Entire states rather than watersheds are included in the Federal Order because of the unrestricted intrastate movement of fish through human activity. Future surveillance may be able to more closely delineate the presence of VHS in specific areas.

Q. Why is the Federal Order necessary?

A. The goal of the Federal Order is to prevent the spread of VHS into aquaculture facilities while also preventing the spread of the disease from the Great Lakes area to uninfected bodies of water. APHIS will continue to gather more information about the disease in order to provide the best possible protection against VHS.

Q. Is APHIS going to follow the Federal Order with official rulemaking?

A. Yes. APHIS will be drafting an interim rule to further address the international and domestic movement of VHS susceptible fish. The rule will be published in the Federal Register along with a notice for public comment. The Federal Order will remain in effect until the interim rule is published in the Federal Register.

Q. Do the requirements in the Federal Order only apply to live fish?

A. Yes. Fertilized eggs or other gametes, dead fish, and tissues (organs, blood, scales, etc.) are not covered under the Federal Order and may continue to move to diagnostic labs or in commerce.

Q. What conditions must be met under the Federal Order to move live VHS susceptible species interstate for slaughter?

A.  In order for live VHS susceptible species to move interstate for slaughter, the fish must be:

  • Intended for human consumption.

  • Transported to a state inspected slaughter facility that discharges waste water into a municipal sewage system that includes waste water treatment. As an alternative, the facility can also dispose of waste water in a non-discharging, settling pond or a settling pond with disinfection according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state requirements. Offal, including carcasses, from the slaughter facility must be either rendered or composted.

  • Accompanied by the proper USDA documentation (VS form 1-27) for the movement of restricted animals if not tested for VH

Q. What is a settling pond with disinfection?

A. A settling pond is one of several ways a slaughter facility or processing plant can remove waste water. Not all settling ponds incorporate a disinfection process. State agencies overseeing slaughter plants ensure that the disinfection process meets applicable Environmental Protection Agency and state regulatory standards.

Q. What conditions must be met under the Federal Order to move live VHS susceptible fish for research and testing?

A.  In order for live VHS susceptible species to move to research and diagnostic laboratories, the fish must be:

  •  Accompanied by the proper USDA documentation (VS form 1-27) for the movement of restricted animals stating the fish are destined for a research or diagnostic laboratory. The laboratory must be approved by state, tribal or federal authorities for aquatic animal health.

  • Received at a facility where waste fluids and carcasses are considered medical waste and disposed of according to EPA and state requirements.

Q. What conditions must be met under the Federal Order to move live VHS susceptible species for purposes other than slaughter, research or diagnostics?

A.  In order to move live VHS susceptible species for purposes other than slaughter, research or diagnostics, the fish must be transported with documentation from appropriate state, tribal, or federal authorities for aquatic animal health stating that the fish have tested negative for the VHS virus under existing national and international standards specified in the Federal Order. National standards for testing are detailed in the American Fisheries Society Suggested Procedures for the Detection and Identification of Certain Finfish and Shellfish Pathogens also referred to as the AFS Blue Book. The blue book is available online at www.fisheries.org/fhs. International standards for testing are included in the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals, which is available online at www.oie.int/eng/normes/fmanual/A_00022.htm.

Q. Does this mean that live fish can move interstate from the 8 states included in the Federal Order if they test negative for VHS?

A.  Live fish can move interstate if they test negative for VHS and are accompanied by documentation from the appropriate state, tribal or federal authority for aquatic animal health. This documentation ensures that all testing is conducted in accordance with the Federal Order at an approved state, tribal or federal laboratory.

Q. What type of documentation is required?

A. The appropriate documentation is determined by the competent state, tribal or federal authority for aquatic animal health. It could be a letter, health certificate or permit depending on individual state, tribal or federal requirements.

Q. What is a competent authority for aquatic animal health?

A. A competent authority is defined as the state, tribal or federal agency that has jurisdiction over aquatic animal health. It is recommended that producers contact their state aquaculture coordinator for more information. A list of state aquaculture coordinators can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/aqua/ under "General Information."

Q. Who determines whether the testing meets national and international standards?

A. The appropriate state, tribal or federal competent authority in the originating jurisdiction will make that determination.

Q. Do all species of fish need to be tested for VHS?

A. No. Only live VHS susceptible species originating from the 8 states included in the Federal Order need to be tested before moving interstate. The list of VHS susceptible species included in the Federal Order can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/aqua/. This list may be updated as our knowledge of species susceptibility increases.

Q. Is testing farm based or fish lot based?

A. The state, tribal or federal competent authority for aquatic animal health in the originating jurisdiction will make that determination.

Q. How can producers find approved laboratories for VHS testing?

A. APHIS recommends that producers contact their state or tribal competent authority for aquatic animal health. The appropriate authority will determine which laboratories are approved to test for VHS. These laboratories may include state, federal and university labs.

Q. How can producers find aquatic animal health professionals to collect samples for VHS testing?

A. APHIS recommends that producers contact their state aquaculture coordinator to provide assistance in locating an aquatic animal health professional. A list of state aquaculture coordinators can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/aqua/ under "General Information."

Q. Does the Federal Order have any implications for the 42 states not included in the emergency action?

A. States not included in the Federal Order can continue to move live VHS susceptible fish species with out restriction. In addition, fish originating in states not included in the Federal order can transit the affected Great Lakes states without oversight.

Q. Do any requirements other than those included in the Federal Order need to be met to move live VHS susceptible species interstate?

A. Yes. In addition to the Federal Order, producers need to meet their existing state requirements as well as any requirements stipulated by the receiving state.

Q. Can live VHS susceptible fish be imported into the United States from Canada?

A. VHS susceptible fish from all Canadian provinces except Ontario and Quebec can continue to move in U.S. commerce without restriction. With the exception of salmonids, all live VHS susceptible species from Ontario and Quebec are prohibited from entering the United States at this time. VHS susceptible species of salmonid fish may enter the United States from Ontario and Quebec only if they meet the requirements specified in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Title 50 Certification. These requirements can be found in 50 CFR 16.13.a.3 and 16.13.b.

Q. Does APHIS have plans to provide compensation for income lost as a result of the Federal Order?

A. No. Under the Animal Health Protection Act, APHIS only has the authority to provide compensation for animals depopulated as part of a disease eradication program. Under the Federal Order APHIS is not requiring the destruction of VHS susceptible species, we are only regulating their movement. The revisions to the original Federal Order allow some movement while still protecting against the spread of VHS.

 

USDA Amends Order on Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia
 

The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Nov. 14 modified an emergency order that prohibited movement of 37 species of live fish from two Canadian provinces and eight states bordering the Great Lakes.

The modifications allow for the interstate transportation of fish susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia out of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin under certain conditions to help prevent the spread of the disease.

The original prohibition was a response to several detections of VHS, a disease affecting some saltwater fish that also has appeared in recent years in wild freshwater fish of the Great Lakes region (see JAVMA, Dec. 1, 2006, page 1712). The intent was to prevent movement of fish at risk of harboring the VHS virus while APHIS gathered information and created a testing and certification program for the interstate transportation of susceptible species.

The conditions for interstate movement of VHS-susceptible species under the current order vary, depending on whether the reason for transporting the fish is slaughter, research or diagnostics, or other purposes. Proper documentation must accompany the fish, and receiving facilities must dispose of wastewater and carcasses appropriately to prevent the spread of the disease.

Additional information is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/aqua/.

 

Additional Links of Interest Regarding Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia

 

Chlorine and Iodophor Disinfectants
By: Terrence Ott, Fish Health Biologist, USFWS, La Crosse Fish Health Center

VHSv is a relatively fragile virus and is quickly inactivated by chlorine and iodophor disinfectants:

Heat - -The virus is completely inactivated at 45C for 60 min or 60C for 15 min.
Chlorine - - Complete inactivation in less than 5 min at a dose rate of 200 mg/L.
Iodine - - Complete inactivation in less than 5 min at a dose rate of 25 mg/L.
NaOH - - Complete inactivation in less than 5 min at a dose rate of 10 g/L.
Quaternary - - Complete inactivation in less than 5 min at a dose rate of 10 mg/L.

At the fish health lab we use EXTRA a commercial disinfectant used on bench tops at 600 ppm or 1:64 for a minimum of 10 minutes. One advantage of this product is that it's non corrosive. This will kill any bacteria, or viruses we deal with in fishes. It's produced by US Chemical Company a Division of Hydrite Chemical Co. Check at U.S. Chemical or Fisher Scientific or other companies for germicidal solutions. In northern Wisconsin, contact Pro Clean at 715-479-4594.

 

News Updatesfrom the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership (AADAP) Program of the US Fish & Wildlife Service

Hydrogen Peroxide Updates

GREAT NEWS!!!  35% PEROX-AID (hydrogen peroxide) was approved on January 11, 2007 for control of mortality in:

  • (1) freshwater-reared finfish eggs due to saprolegniasis,
  • (2) freshwater-reared salmonids due to bacterial gill disease, and
  • (3) freshwater-reared coolwater finfish and channel catfish due to external columnaris disease.

Eka Chemicals, Inc. (Marietta, Georgia), is the sponsor of 35% PEROX-AID.  This is a very important approval because it is:

 * THE FIRST new waterborne drug approved for a disease claim for any aquatic species in more than twenty years.

* THE SECOND aquaculture drug to gain designation under the Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act which entitles Eka Chemicals, Inc. to seven years of exclusivity for marketing rights for the approved label claims.

* THE FIRST new aquaculture drug with an original approval covering multiple label claims for use in a variety of finfish species.

Various entities played a role in this significant achievement.  The Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC; U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, Wisconsin) developed the data that resulted in the approval for these label claims and did this with financial support through base funds and the Federal-State Aquaculture Drug Approval Partnership Project.  UMESC (1) wrote the environmental assessment that completed the environmental safety requirements, (2) performed target animal safety studies on representative species and their eggs so that all freshwater-reared finfish and their eggs could be placed on this or future labels, and (3) conducted laboratory and field effectiveness studies that resulted in these label claims being approved.  Eka Chemicals, Inc. completed the requirements for manufacturing and worked together with the National Coordinator for Aquaculture New Animal Drug Applications to (1) complete the requirements for human food safety, labeling, and all other information on safety and effectiveness and (2) write the original New Animal Drug Application.

35%PEROX-AID is approved with over-the-counter marketing status and has no requirement for an acceptable daily intake, tolerance, withdrawal time, or regulatory method.  Eka Chemicals Inc. has licensed Western Chemical Inc. (telephone:  800-283-5292 or 360-384-5898; address:  1269 Lattimore Road, Ferndale, WA  98248-9424) as the sole distributor of 35%PEROX-AID.

FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has indicated that the Low Regulatory Priority Drug status for hydrogen peroxide is rescinded.  Formerly, facilities could purchase and use most any brand of hydrogen peroxide that was consistent with FDA's policy.  This has changed and the ONLY hydrogen peroxide product that can legally be purchased and used is 35%PEROX-AID and it is for the approved label claims.  To use 35%PEROX-AID to treat additional diseases or additional species not covered on the current label, licensed veterinarians may be able to prescribe a legal extra-label use. 

Oxytetracycline Update:

New Formulation Approved for Phibro's OTC Product:
Phibro Animal Health’s NADA (#038-489-pdf) has now been amended to change the formulation from oxytetracycline hydrochloride to a dihydrate salt of oxytetracycline. In addition to the supplement providing for the approval of the dihydrate salt, it also provided for a change of oxytetracycline concentration in the Type A medicated article, and the addition of an indication for control of gaffkemia in lobsters. For more information, view the Federal Register Notice published on 8 August 2006 (pdf). Phibro Animal Health is to be commended for their efforts in this regard and for supporting the aquaculture industry.

Chloramine-T Update:

Supportive Field Study:
As part of a joint effort, the AADAP staff worked closely with researchers from Iowa Department of Natural Resources Rathbun Fish Culture Research Facility this past summer to conduct a field study to substantiate the effectiveness of 20 mg/L chloramine-T to control mortality caused by external columnaris in walleye Sander vitreus. The study only needs to be considered supportive by CVM’s Aquaculture Team (based on previous discussion with CVM’s Aquaculture Team Leader) to substantiate results from a study conducted by Jeff Rach (USGS/UMESC) that demonstrated the effectiveness of chloramine-T for this claim. The Final Study Report is going through the internal review process and should be submitted to CVM with a request for a formal review soon. Many thanks to Alan Johnson, Jay Rudacille, and Brad Bond for carrying the water on this study.

 

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Product and company names mentioned in this publication are for informational purposes only. It does not imply endorsement by the MTAN or the U.S. Government.

 

 

 
Last updated: August 28, 2009