Valutazione della sensibilità di Doctor fish (Garra rufa) al trattamento con disinfettanti

SUMMARY - In fish therapy it is essential to ensure optimum hygiene conditions while preserving animal welfare. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of Doctor fish (Garra rufa) towards two disinfectant molecules, chloramine T and peracetic acid. The animals have been subjected to increasing treatments/day for the duration of one week with two different concentrations for each disinfectant. The assessment of sensitivity was done by behavioral observation and by histomorphological and morphometrical analysis on skin and gills. The subjects showed signs of stress at the end of the treatment for both molecules and concentrations tested. Histological sections have not shown any changes; it has been noted a statistically significant increase of mucous cells in animals treated with peracetic acid and a decrease of club cells in animals treated with low dose chloramine T and high dose peracetic acid. Animals showed overall good tolerability to the two disinfectant molecules tested.