Peracetic acid (PAA) is a promising disinfectant for biosecurity in the US aquaculture industry to prevent disease outbreaks from fish pathogens. PAA is a stabilized mixture of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and water that breaks down quickly to water and vinegar. PAA has greater reactivity and lipid-penetrating properties than H2O2 alone and is not deactivated by catalase and peroxidase (naturally occurring on organism membranes) which happens with H2O2. Thus, PAA eliminates unwanted organisms easier and faster.
It is being increasingly used to replace chlorine in many industries. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first registered PAA as an antimicrobial in 1985 for indoor use on hard surfaces (e.g., hospitals). Registrations have been expanded to include: sanitation in food/beverage plants, agricultural premises, wineries/breweries, greenhouse equipment, animal housing, as well as commercial laundries, prevention of bio-film formation in pulp/paper industries, and as a disinfectant for wastewater treatment. PAA is approved for use in Denmark, Germany and Norway as a water disinfectant, and our labs international collaborations have studied its effectiveness to many pathogens including Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Saprolegnia spp., and various bacteria.
PAA is registered as a disinfectant for the US aquaculture industry for two products:
PeroxyChem’ s VigorOx® SP-15 Antimicrobial Agent is for: 1) Sanitizing surfaces of harvesting equipment used in the aquaculture industry, and 2) Cleaning and disinfecting fish culture tanks and raceways when water is drained and fish are not present.
AquaTactics’ Aqua Des™ is for: 1) In-water use in fish ponds/raceways (remove fish from pond prior to use and test for residual PAA levels prior to restocking), 2) Use on aquaculture equipment (pumps, boots, foot bath mats, net dips, waders, dive equipment, etc.), and 3) Use on fish pond equipment (water free raceways, gratings, pipes, etc).
Aquaculture research to date will be discussed.