Aqui-S®20E is a liquid containing 10% eugenol that is applied as an immersion bath treatment. Aqui-S®20E is only available for purchase through Merck Animal Health. The primary goal of field studies conducted under INAD #11-741 is to evaluate the efficacy of Aqui-S®20E for use as an anesthetic/sedative in all freshwater-reared finfish, freshwater prawn, all saltwater-reared finfish, and sharks. Fish may be treated between 10 – 100 milligram (mg) eugenol per L for up to 15 minutes or 1 – 15 mg eugenol per L for up to 8 hours exposure (light sedation use). Treatment duration will vary dependent upon species, water temperature, and level of sedation desired. AQUI-S®20E should be applied as a single treatment event. For field use, both freshwater and saltwater finfish treated with AQUI-S®20E can be released immediately back into their natural environment; for hatchery use and light sedation use for both field and hatchery work, a 72-hour Investigational withdrawal period is required; and if other INADs that are authorized by the FDA are used with AQUI-S® 20E then the longest withdrawal time needs to be followed. To participate in the INAD Program for AQUI-S®20E visit the data collecting site.
Please read the Study Protocol prior to any treatments. It contains the protocol, SDS, and a copy of the forms to be used as a guide for collecting data that will be entered into the online INAD database. The FDA authorization letters for this INAD are currently only available by emailing Bonnie Johnson .
Drug Source
Merck Animal Health
35500 W. 91st Street
Desoto, KS 66018
United States
Handleable level of sedation is the most commonly used sedation type. This is a lighter level of sedation that has a shorter treatment duration (i.e., fin-clipping, PIT tags, or weights and measurements).
Anesthesia to surgery levels of sedation will only be used when fish require a deeper level of sedation and has a longer treatment duration (i.e. surgical implantation of a radio tag).
Euthanasia level is when all opercular movements have ceased for a period of 10 minutes.
- 1 to 100 mg eugenol/L (note: AQUI-S®20E is 10% eugenol – active ingredient). Treatment dose will vary dependent upon species, water temperature, and level of sedation desired.
- The following options are the doses and duration recommendation for fish sedated to the handleable level:
- Option A: Handleable sedation for freshwater/saltwater salmonids is between 25 – 40 mg/L; sedation time no longer than 5 minutes; and recovery time less than 20 minutes.
- Option B: Handleable sedation for freshwater non-salmonids is between 40 – 100 mg/L; sedation time no longer than 5 minutes; and recovery time less than 20 minutes.
- Option C: Handleable sedation for saltwater non-salmonids is between 30 – 40 mg/L; sedation time no longer than 5 minutes; and recovery time less than 20 minutes.
- Please use the Aqui-S 20E calculator located to check the amount of Aqui-S 20E that needs to be added to the treatment bath to achieve the targeted dose.
- Treatment duration is up to 15 minutes for handleable, surgical, and euthanasia levels, while light sedation is up to 8 hours. Treatment duration will vary dependent upon species, water temperature, and level of sedation desired.
- AQUI-S®20E should be applied as a single treatment event.
- 72 hours for hatchery use and all light sedation use in field and hatchery setting.
- Freshwater and marine finfish that are sedated by resource managers as part of field-based fishery management activities can be released immediately after treatment. The immediate release provision is for field use only up to 15 minutes exposure.
- No Investigational withdrawal period is required for fish that are not susceptible to legal harvest for a period of 72 hours post-treatment.
- Euthanized fish must not be sent to slaughter or be otherwise available for food.
- If another INAD is used along with AQUI-S®20E treatments, then the longest withdrawal time must be followed.
- Investigator must collect data documenting: 1) time to sedation; and 2) time to recovery from sedation. Investigator must also report general fish behavior and any adverse effects relating to treatment.
- If the recommended handleable levels of sedation are not used then a deviation statement is needed in the Results Report form explaining why a lower/higher dose was used. Treatment doses cannot exceed 100 mg/L.
- If fish used in a hatchery study are released prior to 72 hrs post-treatment, then a reason for this early release is needed to show how they are not catchable in the Results Report form.
- Investigator must follow all instructions in the Study Protocol for INAD 11-741 regarding drug acquisition and handling, fish treatment and disposition, and data reporting requirements.
- Not for use in transport trucks.
- Drug discharge must be in compliance with localNPDES permitting requirements.