Disinfection of teleost eggs: a review

• Published in: Reviews in aquaculture 2016-12, Vol.8 (4), p.321-341
• Main Authors: De Swaef, Evelien, Van den Broeck, Wim, Dierckens, Kristof, Decostere, Annemie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aquaculture; disinfection; egg; fish; gnotobiotic; teleost; Teleostei
• ISSN: 1753-5123; 1753-5131
• DOI: 10.1111/raq.12096

In aquaculture hatcheries, egg disinfection is commonly employed as a mortality mitigation and disease management tool. In addition, disinfection protocols are utilized in research facilities, as a means to create axenic and gnotobiotic larval models. For the latter, a complete sterilization of the eggs is warranted. Multiple research groups have tested various disinfectants in fish eggs adopting different protocols and a range of parameters to evaluate their efficacy and safety. However, there is a clear lack of a critical review listing these different studies and stressing the advantages and shortcomings of the protocols and adopted disinfectants. This review provides a commented survey of the findings/experiments on the most frequently used and upcoming disinfecting products, the protocols in which they are included and their purposes with emphasis on decreasing bacterial and/or fungal load, underscoring the benefits and the limitations of each product. Supplemented with a critical note, this review assists both aquaculturists and researchers in making an informed choice. Moreover, it will help stakeholders to identify the gaps in knowledge where future research on egg disinfection is needed.