Treatments for the control of Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae (Acanthocephala) in tambaqui Colossoma macropomum

Intensive fish farming with inadequate management can imbalance the fish-pathogen-environment relationship, culminating in diseases outbreaks. In the case of tambaqui Colossoma macropomum farming, it may be affected by acanthocephalosis, a parasitic infection without a specific and safe treatment yet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the active ingredients in trichlorfon, albendazole, piperazine, and ivermectin, as well as the non-traditional chemists calcium hydroxide and diatomaceous earth incorporated to the feed, to control Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae (Acanthocephala) in tambaqui. A 63-day trial was conducted in a completely randomized experimental design, with 7 treatments, 3 replicates each, and 54 fish per treatment. Fish were sampled for weight gain and parasite count on days 0, 15, 35, and 63. In general, the efficacy of anthelmintics was low in the treatment of N. buttnerae in tambaqui. Nevertheless, among the tested products, calcium hydroxide and diatomaceous earth showed promising results (48.2% and 36.4% efficacy, respectively), followed by ivermectin and piperazine (15.9% and 12.6%, respectively). Future studies are warranted to test longer drug administration periods, novel products, and diverse experimental conditions to treat N. buttnerae in tambaqui, to provide information to develop strategies for disease management.