Drugs in salmonid aquaculture--a review

• Published in: Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 333 - 349
• Main Authors: Burka, J.F, Hammell, K.L, Horsberg, T.E, Johnson, G.R, Rainnie, D.J, Speare, D.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.10.1997
• Subjects: adverse effects; anesthetics; Anesthetics - administration & dosage; Animals; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; antimicrobial agents; Antiparasitic Agents - therapeutic use; Chloramines - therapeutic use; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; drug therapy; Ethylene Glycols - administration & dosage; Europe; Fish Diseases - drug therapy; Fishes; Formaldehyde - therapeutic use; Hydrogen Peroxide - therapeutic use; Insecticides - therapeutic use; literature reviews; North America; Organothiophosphates - therapeutic use; Parasitic Diseases, Animal - drug therapy; Pentobarbital - administration & dosage; pharmacokinetics; pharmacology; Salmonidae; Tosyl Compounds - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0140-7783; 1365-2885
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2885.1997.00094.x

In contrast to mammalian therapeutics, the use of pharmaceutical substances is rather limited in fish. It is basically restricted to anaesthetic agents and anti‐infective agents for parasitic and microbial diseases. Anaesthetic agents are used primarily in fish farm and laboratory settings to provide analgesia and immobilization of fish for minor procedures. The anti‐infective agents are used for controlling disease and the choice of drug depends on efficacy, ease of application, human safety, target animal safety including stress to the fish, environmental impact, regulatory approval, costs, and implications for marketing the fish. In this article, the major drugs used in salmonids in North America and Europe will be reviewed and some insight into future directions for drug development and use for the salmonid industry will be introduced. The mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, side effects, and uses of the drugs are emphasized.