Ultraviolet Treatment of Water for Destruction of Five Gram-Negative Bacteria Pathogenic to Fishes

Abstract

Filtration (25 nm) and ultraviolet irradiation dosages of 13,100–29,400 microwatt seconds per square centimetre (μW∙s∙cm−2) effected a 99.98–100% reduction of five gram-negative fish pathogens — Aeromonas salmonicida, A. hydrophila, Vibrio anguillarum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and the enteric redmouth organism in 12.5 °C clear spring water or spring water containing particulate matter. Filtration and a dosage of 4500 μW∙s∙cm−2 killed 99.83–100% of test strains in spring water and 4000–4750 μW∙s∙cm−2 killed 99.33–99.99% in water with particulate matter. Irradiation of unfiltered water containing particulate matter was less effective, especially at dosages of 5000 μW∙s∙cm−2 or less, which killed 97–99.94% of strains. Filtration and 13,100 μW∙s∙cm−2 irradiation of water containing A. salmonicida prevented transmission of furunculosis. Key words: ultraviolet irradiation, bacterial fish pathogens, water disinfection