Effect of Artemisia extract on Argulus coregoni and Lernaea cyprinacea infestation in carp fish

Different concentrations of artemisia extract were experimentally tested to treat Lernaea and Argulus infestations in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fish with different methods. A total number of 210 carps (50 ± 10 g) were collected from private farms at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, and divided into 7-groups in triplicate: G1 negative-control (apparently healthy carps), G2 positive-control (infested carps with Lernaea and Argulus), G3: infested carps treated with dipping in a NaCl solution (5g /L for 5 min. for 3 consecutive days), G4-G5: infested carps treated with dipping in a solution of artemisia extract with concentration 50% and 60% respectively, for 5 minutes, then fishes were accommodated at a recovery tank and inspected for 10 min., G6-G7: infested carps were placed in aquarium supplied with artemisia extract (3 mg/ L and 6mg/L respectively, for 15 consecutive days). The results revealed that artemisia extract had a noticeable positive effect on survival, recovery of infested carps and the parasitic elimination% which increased proportionally with increasing the concentration of the extract, whereas the best results were obtained at G5. Also, there were an improvement in serum biochemical parameters (increased total protein, albumin and globulin with reduced AST, ALT, creatinine and urea), which were proportionally improved with increasing both concentration and the duration of exposure to the extract, (especially at G7). Gross and histopathological examination and alterations of skin, gills, liver and intestine also revealed a noticeable improvement to the normal in the groups treated with artemisia extract in comparison with G2 especially G6 and G7. Consequently, application of artemisia extract is a safe and optimal method for treatment of Argulus and Lernaea parasitism in cultured carp.