A new natural tool for the
control of sea lice allows for a significant reduction inparasite burden.
Tests carried out by BioMar in Chile to control the caligidosis in salmon have
discoveredthat a compound derived
from the soap bark tree, a Chilean endemic tree, might help to significantly reduce the
parasite burden. The compound forms part of the formulation of FOCUS PreLice, a new
functional diet launched by BioMar this week. The new diet also contains other active
ingredients in order to enhance the mucus production and the regeneration of tissue by
exerting a synergistic action.
According to Michael Adler, R&D Manager for BioMar's Americas region, the
control of theectoparasites
Lepeophtheirus and Caligus in salmonids is a high priority area for BioMar R&D: - For the last six
years, we have been working with the ultimate goal of finding methods to reduce and
control the burden of infestation on farmed salmons, and ifpossible, to reduce the use
of chemotherapeutic agents. As part of this development, we identified an extract of
the Chilean soap bark tree as one of the interesting candidates, Michael Adler explained
during a launching event which took place in Puerto Varas inChile.
The evaluation process was initiated with in vitro test of the different
compounds, which allowed for making a
selection according to their toxic effect on an inoculum of an adult sea louse. Subsequently,
the compound was tested in an in vivo trial, in which the sea lice infestation rate was
reduced by more than 40 percent.
Finally, using the final
recipe of the new FOCUS PreLice diet, results from trials incommercial farms in Chile
verified the results obtained from controlled conditions; it was possible to document a
reduction in the infestation rate by an average of 43 percent.
FOCUS PreLice was designed as a tool to reduce the rate of sea lice infestation,
with thetarget to decrease in the
frequency of bath and oral treatments. Moreover, it stimulates the production of mucus, thus
improving the external barrier to infection and promotes the synthesis of collagen and
the skin regeneration.
Michael Adler underlined that it is important to remember that in practice,
there exists anenormous variability in the
parasite burden, which means that results may differ: - But the results, both in vitro and
in vivo are clear, and we believe that it is possible to obtain even better results with a
prolonged and more widespread use of FOCUS PreLice. For BioMar's R&D team,
it has been a plus that the solution has been discovered in the Chilean nature: "We are launching a
natural tool which is environmentally friendly, both in terms of usage and
procurement, as the active ingredient is a purified extract from a certified
sustainable extraction from the Chilean soap bark tree," concluded Michael
Adler.
For further information contact: Alin Casado Henrik Aarestrup
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