Laserfiche WebLink
<br />buckets or 20-gallon Rubbermaid totes placed within the holding tank. These receptacles were <br /> <br /> <br />perforated with slots on the sides but not on the bottom to allow water movement so that water <br /> <br /> <br />quality was not compromised but capture and quantification of tapeworms from individual fish <br /> <br />was enabled. Fish were provided with adequate space within each receptacle so that they could <br /> <br />maintain normal swimming orientation and turn freely. Diffuser tubing placed in a grid on the <br /> <br />bottom of the holding tank and a small submersible pump provided water movement and <br /> <br />aeration. We covered the treatment receptacles with a mesh screen to prevent fish from jumping <br /> <br />out and shaded the entire holding tank with a tarp. Water temperature in the treatment tank <br /> <br />remained within :I:: 20C of river temperature throughout treatment. <br /> <br />Water in the holding tank was treated with Praziquantel at a dosage of 1.5 mg/L. This was <br /> <br />the lowest dosage found to be 100% effective at removing tapeworms in our laboratory trials. <br /> <br />Twenty five ml of isopropyl alcohol was added to the Praziquantel to facilitate mixing. The <br /> <br />holding tank was monitored throughout the treatment period and fish were placed in a net <br /> <br />holding pen in the river and monitored for 1-hr following treatment. This allowed for <br /> <br />monitoring of delayed effects of the treatment prior to being released. <br /> <br />Tapeworms were quantified by collecting shed tapeworms or proglottid segments from each <br /> <br />individual receptacle within the holding tank. Tapeworms were preserved in ethanol and <br /> <br />individual tapeworm scolicies were counted. Positive identification of Asian fish tapeworm was <br /> <br />made by verification ofthe characteristic arrow-shaped scolex with a dissecting microscope <br /> <br />(Heckmann and Deacon 1987). Treatment water was filtered through activated carbon to <br /> <br />remove the Praziquantel (Dr. Richard Foust, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, NAU, <br /> <br />personal communication) and disposed of out of the river channel. <br />