Currently, the only U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) registered pesticide for resource managers to control populations of Invasive Carp (e.g., Bighead Carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) are rotenone (Prenfish Fish Toxicant; EPA Reg. No. 89459-85) and Carbon Dioxide – Carp (EPA Reg. No. 6704-95). An alternative to rotenone and Carbon Dioxide – Carp, antimycin-A (ANT-A), is desired by managers to control invasive fish populations. Currently a submission is being prepared to register a formulation containing ANT-A with the USEPA. Pesticide use could be targeted in locations where dense populations of undesired fish occur or can include complete site renovations. Both rotenone and antimycin-a are non-selective pesticide that affect both targeted and non-targeted fishes.
Recently, selectivity has been demonstrated via oral delivery by use of microparticle technology, which exploits the filter-feeding strategy of Bighead and Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix; collectively known as Bigheaded Carp). Continued research seeks to determine susceptibility of native filter-feeding species to this delivery tool. Antimycin-A encapsulation (i.e., microparticle) and pesticidal effectiveness caused lethality in Bigheaded Carp during laboratory trials (UMESC) and a proof-of-concept pond study at Rathbun Fish Hatchery (Rathbun, Iowa; unpublished data). However, limited lethality to Bigheaded Carps using ANT-A microparticles indicated optimization is necessary to improve bioavailability and increase fish acceptance and consumption, and ANT-A bioavailability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Standard gavage methods for testing oral toxicity and bioavailability are not a possibility with filter feeding fishes such as Bigheaded Carp due to their physiology (e.g., pharyngeal teeth, lack of a true stomach, fragile GI tract). Therefore, the goal of this project is to examine ANT-A gut uptake using intestinal cannulation methods to characterize oral toxicity, chemical bioavailability, and tissue biodistribution in Bighead Carp using a model compound 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and ANT-A.

- Overview
Currently, the only U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) registered pesticide for resource managers to control populations of Invasive Carp (e.g., Bighead Carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) are rotenone (Prenfish Fish Toxicant; EPA Reg. No. 89459-85) and Carbon Dioxide – Carp (EPA Reg. No. 6704-95). An alternative to rotenone and Carbon Dioxide – Carp, antimycin-A (ANT-A), is desired by managers to control invasive fish populations. Currently a submission is being prepared to register a formulation containing ANT-A with the USEPA. Pesticide use could be targeted in locations where dense populations of undesired fish occur or can include complete site renovations. Both rotenone and antimycin-a are non-selective pesticide that affect both targeted and non-targeted fishes.
Recently, selectivity has been demonstrated via oral delivery by use of microparticle technology, which exploits the filter-feeding strategy of Bighead and Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix; collectively known as Bigheaded Carp). Continued research seeks to determine susceptibility of native filter-feeding species to this delivery tool. Antimycin-A encapsulation (i.e., microparticle) and pesticidal effectiveness caused lethality in Bigheaded Carp during laboratory trials (UMESC) and a proof-of-concept pond study at Rathbun Fish Hatchery (Rathbun, Iowa; unpublished data). However, limited lethality to Bigheaded Carps using ANT-A microparticles indicated optimization is necessary to improve bioavailability and increase fish acceptance and consumption, and ANT-A bioavailability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Standard gavage methods for testing oral toxicity and bioavailability are not a possibility with filter feeding fishes such as Bigheaded Carp due to their physiology (e.g., pharyngeal teeth, lack of a true stomach, fragile GI tract). Therefore, the goal of this project is to examine ANT-A gut uptake using intestinal cannulation methods to characterize oral toxicity, chemical bioavailability, and tissue biodistribution in Bighead Carp using a model compound 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and ANT-A.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.James Wamboldt, Linnea Thomas, and Blake Sauey preforming intestinal cannulation surgery on a Bigheaded Carp