In nature 



The prevention of furunculosis in nature can be summed up in 

 fovr suggestions; 



(1) Avoid stocking rivers and streams with fish knovm to be 

 infected. 



(2) As far as possible, keep water levels of rivers up. 



(3) Avoid pollution of rivers and streams j particularly organic 

 pollution. 



(4.) If an epizootic is in progress, to help prevent further 

 spread of infection remove dead and diseased fish. Buiy all dead fish. 



Treatment 



In the past there has been no ciarative treatment or means of 

 preventing the spread of furunculosis through any pond or trough among 

 which it has appeared. T/here it has spread through a hatchery, the only 

 sure way to get rid of furunculosis has been to remove all fish, 

 disinfect all ponds and troughs, and restock with healthy fish (Outsell 

 19^7). 



With the advent of sulfonamides there has been a marked change 

 in this picture and a number of avorkers have experimented v/ith this 

 group of drii.gs in the hope of effecting a cure (Outsell 194.6, 1946a, 

 194^8, Wolf 194-7, Outsell and Snieszko 19-48a, 1948b, Snieszko and Friddle 

 1949b, and others). 



The best drug 



To date, sulfamerazine has been found to be the best drug in the 

 treatment of furunculosis (Outsell 194-5, Snieszko and associates 1950b). 

 In 1945 Outsell experimented with five drugs on fingerling brook trout 

 (8 months) with furunculosis. These five were: (l) sulfamerazine, (2) 

 sulfathiazole, (3) sulfanilamide, (4) sulfadiazine, and (5) furacin, 

 each administered by being mixed -with food. In another treatment 

 furacin was added to the water of troughs. Furacin in the water was not 

 beneficial but furacin in food had some helpful effect. Results with 

 sulfanilamide and sulfadiazine were not encouraging. Sulfatliiazole was 

 m.ore beneficial than furacin, but decidedly less effective than 

 sulfamerazine. 



The improvement vj-ith sulfamerazine was impressive. Mortality 

 dropped readily -within a few days, generally was light after a Jieek, 

 and Tvlthin 2 weeks almost completely stopped. Through 25 days the loss 

 was 17 percent as compared with 50 percent among infected lots not 

 receiving medication. 



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