DELIVERY OF QUINOLONE ANTIBACTERIALS TO TURBOT, SCOPHTHALMUS-MAXIMUS (L), VIA BIOENCAPSULATION - QUANTIFICATION AND EFFICACY TRIAL

The incorporation of the quinolone antibacterials oxolinic acid and sa rafloxacin into Artemia fransciscana and subsequently into turbot, Sco phthalmus maximus (L.), was quantified, and the therapeutic efficacy o f the bioencapsulated drugs against challenge with Vibrio anguillarum 8587 was investigated. Five-week-old turbot were fed for 10 days with Artemia enriched with either oxolinic acid or sarafloxacin. Therapeuti c concentrations were reached with both drugs (11.8 mu g oxolinic acid per gram fresh weight; 1.8 mu g sarafloxacin per gram fresh weight). Both treatments proved effective against challenge, with V. anguillaru m-specific mortality rates of 6 and 14% in the oxolinic acid and saraf loxacin treated groups, respectively, compared with 75% in the infecte d control. However, incorporation of the drug by brine shrimp was extr emely low (<1%), and therefore, bioencapsulation cannot be considered as an appropriate method to reduce impact on the environment.