Salmon louse (Lepeoptheirus salmonis) infestations are currently one of the most significant threats faced by aquaculture industries. The elevated feeding activity of sea lice in areas of high salmon density can cause physical harm to the fish and serve as a disease vector between farmed and wild salmon. Current methods of controlling sea lice involve the application of synthetic pesticides, namely emamectin benzoate, through in-feed medication or bath treatments. These commercially available ingredients have shown to be harmful to non-targeted species, while targeted parasites have become more tolerant over time. Herein we present the development of a biopesticide extracted from a natural sources, <i>Azadirachta indica</i>, as an environmentally safer alternative for controlling sea lice infestations. Analytical techniques, namely high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), have been developed to extract, characterize, and monitor the fate of these potential drug candidates with high selectivity and sensitivity, limit of detection of &lt; 1 pM. Incorporation of these active ingredients through in-feed medication was closely monitored and resulted in the successful delivery and distribution of these compounds in the outer tissue of salmon. Azadirachtin A was shown to have high efficacy towards preventing sea lice attachment, as increasing concentrations of this compound in tissue resulted in a decrease in sea lice attachment.

Environmentally safe alternative biopesticides for controlling sea lice

252nd National Meeting (2016)

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