Parasitic freshwater copepods appear to be an increasingly common issue in fish species across the United States. Parasitic freshwater copepods of the genus Salmincola and Argulus seem to be the most prevalent ectoparasites identified . Much is unknown about the biology of most parasitic freshwater copepods including details about their life cycle & stages, the primary tissues they feed on, ecology, etc. It has been determined that water temperature is a primary determinant of the time to hatching and post-hatch survival of early life stages of parasitic freshwater copepods .
In the United States there are currently no approved treatments for the control of parasitic freshwater copepods.
Attempts to control sea lice around the world has reinforced the notion that any single method of control of copepod parasites is destined to fail at some point in the future .
The Atlantic salmon farming industry around the world has developed and implemented Integrated Pest Management Programs (IPMP) to assist with the control of parasitic copepods. Components of an IPMP include operational and management decisions, biologic prevention and treatment, mechanical prevention, and mechanical treatments. Preventing infestation is fundamental to an effective IPMP and copepod control program. However, the goal of an IPMP is not the total prevention of infestations but rather to reduce infestations to levels below an established threshold based on economics, welfare, or transmission .
A group of fish health professionals, aquatic veterinarians, academicians, parasitologists, and researchers met in the summer of 2019 to discuss parasitic freshwater copepods, their biology & control, laboratory models, bio-assays, and identified knowledge gaps as well as future research project needs. Some of the outcomes of this meeting and additional knowledge necessary for the development of IPMP to assist with the control of these copepod parasites will be discussed.