22/06/2016: Sea lice resistance breakthrough by Benchmark Animal Health: ‘Salmosan® Vet All-in-One’

Benchmark Animal Health would like to share the latest findings from their research into breaking sea lice resistance, now supported by experience from their partners in the field.  

             

The company believe in sharing useful research with the industry as early as possible, particularly when the findings are so significant and can be put to use immediately, adding value for producers, fish and the environment. Benchmark's in-depth trials are ongoing and further data will be available soon.  For reference they have named this program ‘Salmosan® Vet All-in-One’.*
         

The facts you need to know about ‘Salmosan® Vet All-in-One’:

• ‘Salmosan® Vet All-in-One’ is a treatment program utilising the synergy between low salinity water** and Salmosan® Vet to achieve maximum efficacy against sea lice and improve fish welfare by minimising stress.
• A low level of salinity is achieved when salmon held in the marine environment are introduced into freshwater treatment units eg well boats.
• The Salmosan® Vet All in One program can be used to treat all stages of multi-resistant sea lice, with field trials demonstrating treatment efficacy up to 100 percent.
• Work to date has demonstrated the optimum regime is a bath treatment consisting of 3 hours in low salinity water, with Salmosan® Vet added for the final 60 minutes (ie total treatment time of 3 hours). 
• It is important for producers to adhere to this 3-hour treatment time. Shorter treatment times will result in reduced efficacy and are likely to contribute to the development of resistance to both freshwater and azamethiphos.  
• Shorter treatment times have shown some effect on some stages of sea lice in laboratory trials. However, these results have not been reproduced under commercial field conditions and are unlikely to kill juvenile stages of sea lice. 
• Tank trials and subsequent commercial treatments using our 3 hour Salmosan® Vet All-in-One program have killed all stages of lice.
• Lice populations previously showing resistance to azamethiphos were successfully treated with up to 100 percent clearance using this program.
• 'Salmosan® Vet All-in-One’ substantially reduces the time the fish need to spend in a low salinity water treatment therefore reducing stress on the fish and allowing more efficient use of treatment facilities.
• Salmosan® Vet must always be used at the label indicated dose, ie 0.2mg Salmosan® Vet per litre water for 60 minutes.  Lower doses or lower time exposure are likely to result in reduced efficacy and contribute to the development of resistant sea lice populations. 

We have achieved some extremely positive results with this program and our technical support team has gained some valuable experience regarding water quality parameters (eg oxygen, carbon dioxide and ammonia).  It is vital that these are managed properly and extra vigilance is needed when holding fish for extended treatment periods.  We would encourage all producers to discuss this with us before deploying it on their farms.
   
When used as part of a strategic treatment plan, Salmosan® Vet All-in-One program is a significant next step for the effective control of sea lice.

   

Visit the Benchmark Animal Health website HERE.
   
* Patent pending.  A patent has been applied for after positive legal review.  This has been taken as a protective action for the industry and will not be actioned for anyone using Salmosan® Vet under the patent.

**Low level salinity ~1-3ppt

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