Experimental treatments against body monogenean (Capsalid) in cage cultured marine fish

Five treatments i.e. garlic bath, garlic spray, Bio-Surfactant spray, oral treatment of immunovector and injection of the whole cell of capsalid monogenean were tested for their efficacy against infestation of body monogenean (Capsalid) in cultured marine fish in Langkawi island, Malaysia. A 100% prevalence of the capsalid monogenean was observed in all the five treatments during the experimental period from 18 August to 13 December 2005. Though all five treatments were able to reduce the mean intensity of monogenean in the cultured fish, daily application of oral immunovector, bi-monthly spray of Bio-Surfactant (0.4%) and four injections of whole cell capsalid antigen fared better than the garlic bath and garlic spray treatment. Approximately 81 to 89% of fish survived in all the cages and all treated fish had a better weight gain than the control fish. Thus, application of oral immunovector, Bio-Surfactant (0.4%) spray and the injection of whole cell capsalid antigen could serve as control measures against capsalid infection (Neobenedenia sp.) by enhancing the resistance of marine fish in cages