[0001] This invention relates to the treatment of fungal infections (especially
Saprolegnia parasitica) of fish, particularly, but not exclusively, trout, salmon, and salmonids in general.
The invention also provides treatments of other fish diseases such as bacterial infections
(for example bacterial gill disease
Flavobacterium branchiophilum and
Cytophaga psychrophila), protozoan infections such as ciliates (for example
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and flagellates (for example
Ichthyobodo necatrix).
[0002] Saprolegnia parasitica is a rapidly spreading and fatal fungal parasite affecting both fish and fish eggs.
It is conventionally treated with malachite green (diamino-triphenylmethane), but
though this treatment is highly effective, the use of malachite green carries with
it a number of potential problems: the compound has been suggested as a possible carcinogen
and teratogen, though these effects are as yet unproven; being a strong dye, it tends
to discolour water, and can under certain conditions cause staining of fish which
have been treated; it has a relatively long withholding period, so that significant
residues can be present in treated fish when they are harvested and sold for consumption;
and the compound is not licensed as a veterinary medicament, and is actually banned
from use in US Federal hatcheries. The article by D.J. Alderman in Journal of Fish
Diseases
8 (1985) 289-298 gives a review of the use of malachite green in treating fish diseases,
and discusses some of the problems associated therewith.
[0003] One currently available alternative to malachite green is formalin, which is the
substance which is now used in US Federal hatcheries. However, due to the irritancy
of this substance, it can only be used under strictly controlled conditions. There
is therefore a need for an improved treatment for fungal and other diseases of fish,
particularly one which combines high efficacy with low toxicity. Many attempts to
identify new treatments have been made in the past and the results of the screening
of 40 potential alternative substances are set out in the article by D.J. Alderman
appearing at Journal of Fish Diseases
5 (1982) 113-123, which also sets down standard protocols for the testing of candidate
treatments. However, despite this and other work (such as that described in the article
by T.A. Bailey appearing at Aquaculture
38 (1984) 97-104), the applicants are not aware of any suitable alternative treatments
to malachite green and formalin having reached the marketplace.
[0004] GB 22263063 discloses an anti ulcer composition for fish based on a mixture of formaldehyde,
a quaternary ammonium salt having bactericidal activity and a brominated alkanediol
itself having anti bacterial activity.
[0005] The abstract of HU38833 refers to an antifungicide and antimicrobiological product
comprising 0.5% bradophen, 0.05% bronopol and 5% hydrophilated silicon, for uses including
veterinary applications.
[0006] It has now been found that bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) has good activity
at relatively low concentrations against
Saprolegnia parasitica, and is safe to use. Bronopol is a known compound, and is used in concentrations
of between 0.01 and 0.2% as an antimicrobial preservative and antiseptic in topical
pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics, and toiletries. It is stated however in "Handbook
of Pharmaceutical Excipients" published by The Pharmaceutical Press (1994) that one
of bronopol's major disadvantages is its relatively poor activity against yeasts and
moulds. It is therefore surprising that bronopol is effective at relatively low concentrations
against
Saprolegnia.
[0007] As will be described in more detail below, bronopol has been shown to be effective
against
Saprolegnia parasitica infection in salmon, trout and trout eggs. It is envisaged however that the treatment
will be effective against the same infection in other salmonid species, and indeed
in other fish (for example ornamental or pet fish), fish eggs and other aquatic creatures
(such as shrimps or prawns) in general. It is expected that there will also be efficacy
against other fungal infections. Furthermore, as bronopol has been shown in the trials
described below to prevent or slow the spread of infection, it may also be used as
a prophylactic.
[0008] Bronopol is a commercial product available from a number of sources. It may be manufactured
by reacting nitromethane with paraformaldehyde in an alkaline environment, followed
by bromination. It is also known that some compounds (such as 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane)
break down to release bronopol, and the invention therefore also extends to the use
of such compounds in the place of bronopol.
[0009] Thus, the invention provides, in one aspect, the use of bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)
in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of any of the
following diseases in fish: fungal infections, flagellate protozoan infections, ciliate
protozoan infections, bacterial gill disease, and myxobacterial infections, wherein
said medicament contains bronopol, as its sole or principal active ingredient against
the aforementioned diseases. The diseases may be caused by any of the following causative
organisms:
Saprolegnia parasitica, Icthyobodo necatrix, Icthyophthirius multifiis, Flavobacterium
branchiophilum and
Cytophaga psychrophila. The diseases may be diseases of salmonid fish, in particular diseases of trout or
salmon.
[0010] In another aspect, the invention provides a treatment bath for the treatment or prophylaxis
of any of the following diseases in fish: fungal infections, flagellate protozoan
infections, ciliate protozoan infections, bacterial gill disease, and myxobacterial
infections, the treatment bath containing bronopol, at a concentration in the range
1 to 1000mg.l
-1 (ppm) as the sole or principal active ingredient against such disease.
[0011] Preferably, the concentration of bronopol in the treatment bath is in the range of
5mg.l
-1 to 200mg.l
-1, and ideally 10mg.l
-1 to 100mg.l
-1. Bronopol is a solid crystalline substance, and may conveniently be prepared as a
solution in a polar solvent, such as water or Dowanol (dipropylene glycol monoethylether).
[0012] Trial 1 (below) was conducted in mildly alkaline conditions (approximately pH 7.4
to 7.5) and it is possible that these conditions are favourable for the anti-fungal
activity demonstrated by bronopol.
[0013] During the trials, bronopol was also tested against various other fish diseases,
and was found to be effective against
Ichthyobodo necatrix, which is an ectoparasite flagellate protozoan,
Flavobacterium branchiophilum (the causative organism of bacterial gill disease), and
Cytophaga psychrophila, which is a myxobacterium and the causative organism of Rainbow Trout Syndrome, Coldwater
disease, Saddleback and Peduncle disease in salmonid fish. The activity against
Cytophaga indicates possible efficacy against myxobacteria in general, and the activity against
Ichthyobodo suggests efficacy against flagellates in general, as well as ciliate protozoans such
as
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.
[0014] The main practical use of the activity against
Cytophaga is likely to be in the disinfection of tanks and equipment and the invention therefore
encompasses a method of disinfecting fish tanks and/or instruments for use in the
husbandry of fish, the method comprising the step of exposing the tank/equipment to
a solution containing bronopol, as the sole a principal active disinfecting ingredient.
Preferably, the bronopol is present in a concentration of between approximately 1
and 2000 mg.l
-1, more preferably 5 to 1000 mg.l
-1. The exposure time is preferably between 2 and 40 mins .
[0015] The invention is hereinafter described in more detail by way of example only, with
reference to the following experimental trials:
TRIAL 1
In vitro efficacy of bronopol against Saprolegnia parasitica
[0016] This trial was carried out using the procedures described in Journal of Fish Diseases
(1982)
5, 113-123, cited above.
Preparation of Inocula
[0017] A culture of
Saprolegnia parasitica was maintained at 16°C on river water, glucose, yeast extract agar (RGY), consisting
of yeast extract (1 g) , D(+)glucose (5 g), and agar (12 g) in 11 river water. Plates
of RGY were seeded with the test organism and incubated at 25°C until growth just
covered the full diameter of the dish (approximately 72 hours). Discs were cut from
the outer 10 mm of the culture, using a 4-mm diameter punch (adapted from a gel chromatography
well punch by welding-on a handle) and then used as standard inocula for testing.
Test 1A
Method
[0018] Bronopol was tested for activity against the
Saprolegnia parasitica cultures at different concentrations ranging from 50mg.l
-1 to 100mg.l
-1, using Protocol II of the aforementioned J. Fish Diseases article, as follows. Polycarbonate
filter membranes of 0.2-µm porosity and 25-mm diameter (Nuclepore; Sterlin) were sterilized
by autoclaving and then placed on the surface of RGY plates (7 per 90-mm petri-dish).
A standard 4-mm disc inoculum was then placed, inverted, at the centre of the filter.
The dishes containing the filters were then incubated until the resulting mycelial
mat had almost reached the edge of the filters. The original inocula were then clipped
off (as far as practical) using hot forceps tips to avoid disturbing the loosely adherent
mycelial mat. The mycelial mats together with their supporting filters were lifted
off the agar surface on the filters, transferred to empty, sterile, petri-dishes and
completely submerged in the bronopol solution at selected concentrations. At the end
of the 1 hour exposure period the bronopol solution was removed by aspiration and
replaced by two washes of sterile river water (for 5 and 30 min, respectively) before
the mycelial mat and filter were transferred, filter uppermost, to the surface of
a fresh RGY plate. After incubation at 16°C for 24 h, any new growth beyond the edge
of the filter was measured at four points around the filter, at 90° intervals.
[0019] The experiment was performed using six separate culture samples at each concentration
of bronopol, and was repeated using malachite green in place of bronopol. A negative
control test using no active agent was also performed. The results are set out in
the table below:

Discussion
[0020] In this test naked fungal hyphae are exposed to bronopol, which is shown to have
an inhibitory effect as low as 50 ppm for 5 minutes against subsequent vegetative
growth. Ten minutes' exposure at 500 ppm prevents all subsequent vegetative growth
with this test method.
Test 1B
Method
[0021] In this test, bronopol was tested for efficacy against
Saprolegnia parasitica using the more demanding Protocol III of the aforementioned J. Fish Diseases article,
the method being as follows:
[0022] Four disc inocula were placed in each compartment of a sterile replidish (25 compartments
in five rows; Sterilin). Five different test concentrations applied for five different
exposure times could thus be carried out in quadruplicate in one dish. The test concentrations
were added aseptically in volumes of 2.5 ml to each compartment for the standard exposure
times, which were 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mins. At the end of the individual exposure
times, the test solutions were removed from the compartments by aspiration. Each set
of discs was then washed
in situ in two changes of sterile river water (for 5 and 30 mins, respectively) and then
incubated in a further 2.5 ml of sterile river water,
in situ, for 72 h at 16°C. Subsequently, the discs were examined under a stereomicroscope,
using transmitted dark-ground illumination, and scored for presence or absence of
new growth on the agar disc surface. In all cases of doubt, particularly at the borderline
between growth and no growth, discs were then transferred to RGY for a further 72
h at 16°C to determine accurately the viability of the mycelium within the disc. The
test was repeated, substituting malachite green oxalate for bronopol.
Discussion
[0024] Bronopol has a marked effect on immediate zoosporulation with exposures as little
as 5 minutes at concentrations of 100 ppm or (possibly) less. This test uses an agar
plug method, in which the agar containing the mycelium obviously offers protection
to the hyphae, but bronopol still penetrates and a 20 minute 1,000 ppm exposure prevents
all subsequent growth, and this concentration also has a significant effect in as
short as 5 minutes. Furthermore, the lower 100 ppm exposure for 80 minutes also appears
to have some inhibitory effect.
TRIAL 2
In vivo efficacy of bronopol against Saprolegnia parasitica infection in Salmon
Method
[0025] 105 Atlantic salmon (
Salmon salar) of mixed sex aged approximately 8 months and weighing approximately 30g on average
where divided into three treatment groups, each of 35 fish. Each group was kept in
fresh water at 12.5°C in a 210 litre fibreglass tank. The fish were fed daily with
2% body weight of "Biomar" production feed. After two weeks' acclimatisation, all
three groups were artificially infected with
Saprolegnia parasitica, the date of infection being designated 'day 0' of the trial. The groups were then
treated, on days 1, 3 and 5, as follows:
| Groups |
Treatment |
Treatment concentration |
Treatment Duration |
| 1 |
None |
- |
- |
| 2 |
Malachite qreen |
2mg.l-1 |
60 min bath |
| 3 |
Bronopol |
30mg.l-1 |
15 min bath |
[0026] On day 8 of the trial, all fish were culled, and the degree of infection of each
fish assessed according to the following scoring system:
| Degree of fungal infection |
Score |
| None |
1 |
Mild (fungus visible on <25%
of fish's surface) |
2 |
Moderate (fungus visible on 50%
of fish's surface) |
3 |
| Severe (Lesion(s) on fish) |
4 |
| Mortality* |
5 |
| (*Dead fish were removed as mortalities occurred, to avoid contamination of water.) |
Results
[0027] The number of fish in each category of the above scoring system, and the total score
for each group, were as follows:
| SCORE |
CONTROL |
Malachite
Green |
Bronopol |
| None 1 |
18 |
25 |
23 |
| Mild 2 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
| Moderate 3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
| Severe 4 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Mortality 5 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
| TOTAL SCORE |
85 |
70 |
61 |
[0028] The cumulative numbers of mortalities for each day of the trial are illustrated graphically
in Fig. 1.
Conclusion
[0029] Bronopol proved effective against
Saprolegnia infection, and also reduced mortalities by 50% compared to both the non-treatment
and the malachite green treatment groups.
TRIAL 3
In vivo efficacy of bronopol against Ichthyobodo necatrix infection in rainbow trout
Method
[0030] Rainbow trout (
Oncorhyncus mykiss) having a mean weight of 15g were used in this trial, and prior to treatment were
confined in a single pond with 6 individuals heavily infected with
Ichthyobodo. Infection of the previously healthy individuals was confirmed after 5 days by microscopy
of mounted gill specimens. Bronopol treatment was administered to a group of 20 fish
using the same method as in Trial 2. The Trial was repeated using a group of 19 infected
fish treated with formalin (a standard treatment for
Ichthyobodo), with a further group of 20 infected fish receiving no treatment and acting as a
control. At 7 days after treatment the mean number of parasites per gill filament
was assessed in each group (by counting the number of parasites on 10 filaments of
each of 5 fish), and at 14 days a further count was conducted, with individual fish
being either categorised as having no infection, or being placed in one of four infected
categories, according to the degree of infection.
Results
[0031]
Days Post
Treatment |
Infection
Level |
Bronopol |
GROUP
No treatment
Control |
Formalin |
| 7 |
mean numbers of parasites per gill filament |
<0.5 |
2.0 |
0 |
| 14 |
percentage in each category: |
|
|
|
| |
- |
50 |
0 |
100 |
| |
+ |
43 |
29 |
0 |
| |
++ |
7 |
29 |
0 |
| |
+++ |
0 |
18 |
0 |
| |
++++ |
0 |
23 |
0 |
| No mortalities occurred. |
Conclusion
[0032] Bronopol was shown to have good activity against
Ichthyobodo infection in rainbow trout. Although less effective than formalin, its use carries
less risk. It may be inferred that bronopol will have similar efficacy against Ichthyobodo
infection in other salmonids, and in fish and aquatic organisms in general, and will
also be useful in the prophylaxis of the disease.
TRIAL 4
In vitro efficacy of bronopol against Cytophaga Psychrophila
Method
[0033] First,the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) for bronopol against
Cytophaga Psychrophila was established by growing the organism in broth, and then adding different dilutions
of bronopol to establish what concentration would kill the
Cytophaga.
[0034] Then based on the MBC results, the contact times required to kill the
Cytophaga were investigated. A known-number of viable bacteria were added to distilled water
and exposed to various concentrations of bronopol for 2-40 minutes. Then the bacteria
were extracted by filtration, and the extracted bacteria tested for viability by investigating
their growth in culture medium by measuring optical density at 520nm.
Results
[0035] The results are set out graphically in Fig. 2. The minimum test concentration which
was shown to be effective was 5 mg.l
-1 (ppm), but it is likely that the actual minimum effective concentration lies between
1 mg.l
-1 and 5 mg.l
-1. It was also found that an exposure time of up to 40 mins was required to prevent
bacterial growth after re-inoculation onto fresh media when concentrations of between
5 mg.l
-1 and 400 mg.l
-1 were used, with the necessary exposure time being reduced to around 4 minutes at
a concentration of 1000 mg.l
-1 and around 2 minutes at 2000 mg.l
-1.
Conclusion
[0036] Bronopol was shown to be active against
Cytophaga psychrophila at concentrations as low as 5 mg.l
-1.
Cytophaga is an example of the group of bacteria known as myxobacteria, which are characterised
by a protective mucopolysaccharide layer, and which are generally resistant to disinfectants
(for example, the dose of iodophor disinfectant required to kill
Cytophaga is approximately 2000 mg.l
-1). Based on the known uses of bronopol, this activity is therefore surprising, and
may indicate activity against myxobacteria in general. Bronopol is likely to prove
a suitable disinfectant treatment for fish tanks and equipment, and may also be of
use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis for the various diseases caused by this organism
in trout and other salmonids, and also (when these occur) in other f ish and aquatic
organisms.
TRIAL 5
In vivo efficacy of bronopol against Flavobacterium branchophilum infection in rainbow
trout
[0037] Seven tanks of 150 rainbow trout each, at a stocking density of 100 g.l
-1, were included in this experiment. The fish averaged 15g in size. Water temperature
was 11°C and turned over at a rate of once per hour.
[0038] One tank of fish was maintained as a negative control and was neither challenged
or treated. An additional tank was challenged, but not treated, to act as a positive
control. Two tanks were treated with chloramine-T (a conventional treatment) at a
concentration of 10mgl
-1. Three tanks were treated with bronopol, one each at the following concentrations:
5, 25 and 50 mg.l
-1.
[0039] Fish were challenged on day 0, and tanks were treated with either chloramine-T or
bronopol on days 2 and 4 of the experiment. All six tanks which were experimentally
infected with
F. branchiophilum were treated with the respective therapeutants simultaneously for one hour in a static
bath with aeration.
[0040] The efficacy of each treatment was evaluated by clinical signs, gill bacterial antigen
levels measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), mortality rates and cumulative mortality
and finally by histological examination.
[0041] Gill samples for EIA were collected from five fish in each tank before experimental
infection, and before treatment. Further gill samples were collected 6 and 36 hours
after the initial treatment, after which the groups were retreated with identical
concentrations of the same therapeutant, in an identical manner. Gill samples from
five fish from each tank were again collected 6 and 36 hours after the second treatment.
Mortality in each tank was recorded each day. The results are presented graphically
in Figs. 3 to 5.
[0042] Based on the mortality and EIA data, the lowest concentration of bronopol (5 mg.l
-1, Fig. 5) was found to be ineffective. Mortality was inversely related to the dose
of bronopol (Fig. 3).
[0043] It is evident that mortality corresponds closely with the bacterial antigen levels
detected on the gills, and that the EIA is a useful tool for monitoring the efficacy
of a therapeutant's ability to eliminate bacteria from the gill surface. As with mortality,
the bacterial gill antigen concentration at most sample times, is inversely proportional
to the dose of therapeutant (Fig. 5). The two highest concentrations of bronopol effectively
eliminated the bacteria from the gill surface after the second treatment (Fig. 5).
It is clear that bronopol is effective against
Flavobacterium branchophilum, and that in the trial bronopol at 25 mg.l
-1 and 50 mg.l
-1 reduced mortalities among the infected fish, both compared to the untreated fish,
and to the fish treated with chloramine-T.
TRIAL 6
In vivo efficacy of bronopol against Saprolegnia parasitica in brown trout
Method
[0044] This trial set out to assess the efficacy of bronopol in the treatment of brown trout
naturally infected with
Saprolegnia parasitica. 40 fish were used in the trial, and these were divided equally into two groups held
in separate tanks. A moribund fish heavily infected with
Saprolegnia parasitca was placed in each tank, with the intention of infecting the other fish naturally.
On days 1, 3 and 5 of the trial the fish in one group were treated to a 50mg.l
-1 bath of bronopol for 15 min, while the fish in the second group were left untreated
and acted as a control. The degree of infection of the fish in both groups was assessed
on day 7 of the trial.
Results
[0045] In both groups the moribund fish died on day 1 of the trial, but in each case was
left in the tank to ensure a good challenge to the remaining fish. On day 7 of the
trial all of the fish in the control group were noted to be severely affected by
Saprolegnia, and were killed on humanitarian grounds. In contrast, the fish in the bronopol treatment
group were all healthy and had no visual signs of
Saprolegnia infection.
Conclusion
[0046] Repeated treatment with bronopol at a concentration of 50mg.l
-1 appears to be highly effective as a treatment for
Saprolegnia infection in brown trout, and/or as a prophylactic to prevent infection.
1. The use of bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), in the manufacture of a medicament
for the treatment or prophylaxis of any of the following diseases in fish: fungal
infections, flagellate protozoan infections, ciliate protozoan infections, bacterial
gill disease, and myxobacterial infections, wherein said medicament contains bronopol,
as its sole or principal active ingredient against the aforementioned diseases.
2. The use as claimed in claim 1, for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases caused
by any of the following causative organisms: Saprolegnia parasitica, Icthyobodo necatrix, Icthyophthirius multifiliis, Flavobacterium
branchiophilum and Cytophaga psychrophila.
3. The use according to claim 1 or claim 2 for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases
of salmonid fish.
4. The use according to claim 3, for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases of trout
or salmon.
5. A treatment bath for the treatment or prophylaxis of any of the following diseases
in fish: fungal infections, flagellate protozoan infections, ciliate protozoan infections,
bacterial gill disease, and myxobacterial infections, the treatment bath containing
bronopol, at a concentration in the range 1 to 1000mg.l-1 (ppm) as the sole or principal active ingredient against such disease.
6. A treatment bath according to claim 5, wherein the concentration of bronopol is in
the range 5 to 200 mg.l-1 (ppm).
7. A treatment bath according to claim 6, wherein the concentration of bronopol is in
the range 10 to 100 mg.l-1 (ppm).
8. A method of disinfecting fish tanks and/or equipment for use in the husbandry of fish,
the method comprising the step of exposing the tank or equipment to a solution containing
bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), as the sole or principal active disinfecting
ingredient.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the concentration of bronopol, is in the range 1 to
2000 mg.l-1 (ppm).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the concentration of bronopol, is in the range 5 to
1000 mg.l-1 (ppm).
11. The method of any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the tank or equipment is exposed to the
solution for a period of time in the range 2 to 40 minutes.
1. Verwendung von Bronopol (2-Brom-2-nitropropan-1,3-diol) bei der Herstellung eines
Arzneimittels zur Behandlung oder Prophylaxe einer beliebigen der nachfolgenden Krankheiten
beim Fisch: Pilzinfektionen, Geißeltierchen-In-fektionen, Flimmertierchen-Infektionen,
bakterielle Kiemenschwellung und myxobakterielle Infektionen, wobei das Arzneimittel
Bronopol als seinen alleinigen oder hauptsächlichen Wirkstoff gegen die vorstehend
erwähnten Krankheiten enthält.
2. Verwendung nach Anspruch 1 zur Behandlung von oder Prophylaxe von Krankheiten, hervorgerufen
durch die nachfolgenden verursachenden Organismen: Saprolegnia parasitica, Ichthyobodo
necatrix, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Flavobacterium branchiophilum und Cytophaga
psychrophila.
3. Verwendung nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2 zur Behandlung oder Prophylaxe von Krankheiten
bei forellenartigem Fisch.
4. Verwendung nach Anspruch 3 zur Behandlung oder Prophylaxe von Krankheiten bei Forelle
oder Lachs.
5. Behandlungsbad zur Behandlung oder Prophylaxe einer beliebigen der nachfolgenden Krankheiten
beim Fisch: Pilzinfektionen,Geißeltierchen-Infektionen, Flimmertierchen-Infek-tionen,
bakterielle Kiemenschwellung und myxobakterielle Infektionen, wobei das Behandlungsbad
Bronopol in einer Konzentration im Bereich von 1 bis 1000 mg.l-1 (ppm) als seinen alleinigen oder hauptsächlichen Wirkstoff gegen derartige Krankheiten
enthält.
6. Behandlungsbad nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Konzentration von Bronopol im Bereich von
5 bis 200 mg.l-1 (ppm) liegt.
7. Behandlungsbad nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Konzentration von Bronopol im Bereich von
10 bis 100 mg.l-1 (ppm) liegt.
8. Verfahren zur Desinfektion von Behältern für Fische und/oder Ausrüstung zur Anwendung
bei der Fischhaltung, wobei das Verfahren den Schritt der Exposition des Behälters
oder der Ausrüstung einer Lösung, enthaltend Bronopol (2-Brom-2-nitropropan-1,3-diol)
als den alleinigen oder hauptsächlichen desinfizierenden Wirkstoff, umfasst.
9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, wobei die Konzentration von Bronopol im Bereich von 1 bis
2000 mg.l-1 (ppm) liegt.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, wobei die Konzentration von Bronopol im Bereich von 5 bis
1000 mg.l-1 (ppm) liegt.
11. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 8 bis 10, wobei der Behälter oder die Ausrüstung
über einen Zeitraum im Bereich von 2 bis 40 Minuten der Lösung ausgesetzt wird.
1. Utilisation de bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) dans la fabrication d'un
médicament destiné au traitement ou à la prophylaxie de l'une quelconque des maladies
suivantes chez le poisson: infections fongiques, infections par des protozoaires flagellés,
infections par des protozoaires ciliés, pourriture bactérienne des branchies et infections
par des myxobactéries, ledit médicament contenant du bronopol comme seul ou principal
ingrédient actif contre les maladies susmentionnées. 1, pour
2. Utilisation telle que revendiquée dans la revendication 1, pour le traitement ou la
prophylaxie de maladies causées par l'un quelconque des agents pathogènes suivants:
Saprolegnia parasitica, Icthyobodo necatrix, Icthyophthirius multifiliis, Flavobacterium
branchiophilum et Cytophaga psychrophila.
3. Utilisation selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2 pour le traitement ou la
prophylaxie des maladies d'un salmonidé.
4. Utilisation selon la revendication 3, pour le traitement ou la prophylaxie des maladies
de la truite ou du saumon.
5. Bain de traitement pour le traitement ou la prophylaxie de l'une quelconque des maladies
suivantes chez le poisson: infections fongiques, infections par des protozoaires flagellés,
infections par des protozoaires ciliés, pourriture bactérienne des branchies et infections
par des myxobactéries, ledit bain de traitement contenant du bronopol à une concentration
comprise dans l'intervalle de 1 à 1000 mg.l-1 (ppm) comme seul ou principal ingrédient actif contre une telle maladie.
6. Bain de traitement selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la concentration de bronopol
est comprise dans l'intervalle de 5 à 200 mg.l-1 (ppm).
7. Bain de traitement selon la revendication 6, dans lequel la concentration de bronopol
est comprise dans l'intervalle de 10 à 100 mg.l-1 (ppm).
8. Procédé de désinfection des réservoirs à poissons et/ou d'un équipement utilisé dans
l'élevage des poissons, le procédé comprenant l'étape consistant à exposer le réservoir
ou l'équipement à une solution contenant du bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)
comme seul ou principal ingrédient actif désinfectant.
9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel la concentration de bronopol est comprise
dans l'intervalle de 1 à 2000 mg.l-1 (ppm).
10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, dans lequel la concentration de bronopol est comprise
dans l'intervalle de 5 à 1000 mg.l-1 (ppm).
11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 10, dans lequel le réservoir
ou l'équipement est exposé à la solution pendant une période de temps comprise dans
l'intervalle de 2 à 40 minutes.