LABORATORY STUDIES OF ANTIPARASITIC ACTIVITIES OF LEVAMISOLE AGAINST PHILOMETROIDOSIS IN CARP (Cyprinus carpio linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Objective of research:  studies of efficacy of levamisole used against philometroidosis in carp in laboratory conditions.  Materials and methods:   Experiments were conducted on scaly carps with the body mass 300 g. spontaneously infected with  Philometra lusiana.  In carp the clinical signs of  philometroidosis have been detected. The intensity of infection before the experiment was 10–20 parasites/fish.  Carps were divided into 6 groups by  10  fish in each group.   Levamisole was  injected through the catheter to fishes of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 group at the doses of 100, 50, 25, 15 and 5 mg/kg, respectively with the use of 2% starch gel.  Fish of the 6th group did not receive the preparation and served as controls.  The efficacy of preparation was evaluated  7 days later by most-mortem examination to determine females  Ph. lusiana  in the scale pockets and males between  the air  bladder walls.  Scrapes from the air bladder walls were investigated under a microscope at the 56 times magnification; the intensity and extensity of invasion were determined.  Results and discussion: Levamisole is highly effective against philometroidosis in carp. The drug used at the dose 100–15 mg/kg causes death of females and males Ph. lusiana. Levamisole  at the dose 5 mg/kg   is not effective,  at the dose 100 mg/kg may reduce the feeding activity in fish.