Title
Efficacy of Intracoelomic Enrofloxacom for the Treatment of Sea Star Wasting Disease in Four Species of Captive Asteroidea
Author(s)
Lahner L.L.; Wahlstrom S.J.; Newton A.L.; Haulena, M.; Garner, M.; Mah, C.
Published
2015
Abstract
Sea star wasting disease (SSWD) is associated with one of the largest marine wildlife die-offs ever recorded, killing millions of sea stars from Alaska to Mexico since the summer of 2013.1 Over 20 species of sea stars have been affected by SSWD. Anecdotal reports suggested that enrofloxacin administered via intracoelomic injection (i.c.) was effective in treating SSWD in captive sea stars.
Fifty-two sea stars from the five genera (Pycnopodia, Pisaster, Evasterias, Dermasterias, and Orthosterisas) all showing early signs of SSWD, were randomly assigned into a treatment group (n = 26, enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg, i.c. q4 days) and a control group (n = 26, saline 0.9%, i.c. q4 days) for a total of six treatments. Animals were monitored and graded for severity of lesions twice daily.
The scores were not significantly different between groups throughout the study period. At day 20, after four treatments, the mortality rate was 100% and 77% in the control and treatment groups respectively and was not significantly different (P = 0.55). At day 30, after six complete treatments, the mortality rate in the treatment group was 95% and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.9). While enrofloxacin given intracoelomically at 10 mg/kg to sea stars
results in high drug concentrations in the hemolymph of sea stars (J. Rosenburg, pers. comm.), administration of enrofloxacin by injection did not alter mortality rates significantly in captive sea stars affected by SSWD and is therefore not recommended for the treatment of this disease in commonly affected species.
Keywords
Dermisterias; enrofloxacin; pedicellariae; Pycnopodia; sea star; sea star wasting disease
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PUB15563