Effects of Dactylogyrus spp. Co-infection on Mortality in Two Oreochromis niloticus Strains and Evaluation of Potassium Permanganate Treatment Efficacy for Sustainable Aquaculture Development

¹ Aquaculture laboratory; Higher institute of maritime Fisheries, Agadir, Morocco
² Environmental, Ecological and Agro-Industrial Engineering Laboratory. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques. University Sultan Moulay Slimane. Beni-Mellal, Morocco.
³ Laboratory of Mechanics, Engineering and Innovation, National Higher School of Electricity and Mechanics, Hassan II University of Casablanca (UH2C), Maarif Casablanca 20100, Morocco.

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This study examined the impact of co-infection with Dactylogyrus spp. on the mortality of two strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), the gray and red strains, under controlled aquaculture conditions. Over a seven-month period, 65 juveniles of each strain were monitored for growth, survival, and parasite infection levels. The results showed that the red strain significantly outperformed the gray strain in terms of growth (83.8 g vs. 51.3 g final weight) and survival (97% vs. 70%), mainly due to its greater resistance to Dactylogyrus spp. infections and environmental stressors. To ensure the survival of these individuals, we used potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) treatment; this demonstrated a rapid reduction in parasite load, thus improving fish health. This research highlights the importance of strain selection and effective parasite management to improve the productivity and sustainability of tilapia aquaculture, thereby contributing to sustainable energy and environmental protection.