Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory study
Salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestations pose a significant challenge to the salmonid farming industry. While most conventional water-treatment protocols primarily target lice at parasitic stages once attached to the fish, preventive measures targeting planktonic/free-living stages are sc...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
|
| Series: | Aquaculture Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002807 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850036188050620416 |
|---|---|
| author | Elia Ciani Marit Stormoen Stein Ivar Antonsen Frank Nilsen Even Hjalmar Jørgensen Anna Zofia Komisarczuk |
| author_facet | Elia Ciani Marit Stormoen Stein Ivar Antonsen Frank Nilsen Even Hjalmar Jørgensen Anna Zofia Komisarczuk |
| author_sort | Elia Ciani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestations pose a significant challenge to the salmonid farming industry. While most conventional water-treatment protocols primarily target lice at parasitic stages once attached to the fish, preventive measures targeting planktonic/free-living stages are scarce. This study investigated the effects of fine calcium oxide (CaO) particles on salmon louse planktonic stages under controlled laboratory conditions. The study tested a range of concentrations (0.2 g/L to 0.6 g/L) exposure times (2–15 minutes) and frequency of exposures (from daily to every five days). The results indicated that the effects of CaO exposure were positively correlated with the concentration, duration, and frequency of the treatment. Exposure to CaO (10 minutes at 0.2 g/L) reduced by 60–70 % the number of nauplii reaching the copepodid stage by decreasing survivability and molting. CaO treatment (10 min at 0.6 g/L) induced up to 90 % mortality of free-living copepodids. In infection trials using copepodids that survived CaO treatment, there was a 42.1 % reduction in the number of parasitic chalimus, pre-adult, and adults on the salmon five weeks post-infection as compared to control. The LC50 for copepodids ranged between 0.54- and 0.36-g/L for an exposure time of 2–10 minutes, respectively. This laboratory study serves as an essential first step in validating the efficacy of CaO and establishes a foundation for future field trials to assess its potential as an antiparasitic treatment in aquaculture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab191c4027df4f3585b3bf9ffd72ab63 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2352-5134 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aquaculture Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab191c4027df4f3585b3bf9ffd72ab632025-08-20T02:57:17ZengElsevierAquaculture Reports2352-51342025-09-014310289410.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102894Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory studyElia Ciani0Marit Stormoen1Stein Ivar Antonsen2Frank Nilsen3Even Hjalmar Jørgensen4Anna Zofia Komisarczuk5Department of Production Animal clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway; Aquaculture Unit, Edmund Mach Foundation, San Michele all’Adige, Italy; Corresponding author at: Department of Production Animal clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayDepartment of Production Animal clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwaySeacalx AS, Gratangen, NorwayDepartment of Biological Sciences, SLCR-Sea Lice Research Centre, University of Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Arctic and Marine Biology, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayCenter for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, NorwaySalmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestations pose a significant challenge to the salmonid farming industry. While most conventional water-treatment protocols primarily target lice at parasitic stages once attached to the fish, preventive measures targeting planktonic/free-living stages are scarce. This study investigated the effects of fine calcium oxide (CaO) particles on salmon louse planktonic stages under controlled laboratory conditions. The study tested a range of concentrations (0.2 g/L to 0.6 g/L) exposure times (2–15 minutes) and frequency of exposures (from daily to every five days). The results indicated that the effects of CaO exposure were positively correlated with the concentration, duration, and frequency of the treatment. Exposure to CaO (10 minutes at 0.2 g/L) reduced by 60–70 % the number of nauplii reaching the copepodid stage by decreasing survivability and molting. CaO treatment (10 min at 0.6 g/L) induced up to 90 % mortality of free-living copepodids. In infection trials using copepodids that survived CaO treatment, there was a 42.1 % reduction in the number of parasitic chalimus, pre-adult, and adults on the salmon five weeks post-infection as compared to control. The LC50 for copepodids ranged between 0.54- and 0.36-g/L for an exposure time of 2–10 minutes, respectively. This laboratory study serves as an essential first step in validating the efficacy of CaO and establishes a foundation for future field trials to assess its potential as an antiparasitic treatment in aquaculture.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002807Lepeophtheirus salmonisSalmon louseCalcium oxideAtlantic salmon |
| spellingShingle | Elia Ciani Marit Stormoen Stein Ivar Antonsen Frank Nilsen Even Hjalmar Jørgensen Anna Zofia Komisarczuk Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory study Aquaculture Reports Lepeophtheirus salmonis Salmon louse Calcium oxide Atlantic salmon |
| title | Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory study |
| title_full | Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory study |
| title_fullStr | Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory study |
| title_short | Optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A controlled laboratory study |
| title_sort | optimization of calcium oxide treatment against salmon louse lepeophtheirus salmonis a controlled laboratory study |
| topic | Lepeophtheirus salmonis Salmon louse Calcium oxide Atlantic salmon |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002807 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eliaciani optimizationofcalciumoxidetreatmentagainstsalmonlouselepeophtheirussalmonisacontrolledlaboratorystudy AT maritstormoen optimizationofcalciumoxidetreatmentagainstsalmonlouselepeophtheirussalmonisacontrolledlaboratorystudy AT steinivarantonsen optimizationofcalciumoxidetreatmentagainstsalmonlouselepeophtheirussalmonisacontrolledlaboratorystudy AT franknilsen optimizationofcalciumoxidetreatmentagainstsalmonlouselepeophtheirussalmonisacontrolledlaboratorystudy AT evenhjalmarjørgensen optimizationofcalciumoxidetreatmentagainstsalmonlouselepeophtheirussalmonisacontrolledlaboratorystudy AT annazofiakomisarczuk optimizationofcalciumoxidetreatmentagainstsalmonlouselepeophtheirussalmonisacontrolledlaboratorystudy |