Dl. Waller et Sw. Fisher, EVALUATION OF SEVERAL CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS FOR REMOVING ZEBRA MUSSELS FROM UNIONID MUSSELS, The Progressive fish-culturist, 60(4), 1998, pp. 307-310
We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of chemical treatments for k
illing veliger and juvenile stages of the zebra mussel Dreissena polym
orpha attached to unionid mussels. Static toxicity tests were conducte
d on eight unionid mussel species with common aquaculture chemicals (b
enzalkonium chloride, formalin, hydrogen peroxide, calcium chloride, p
otassium chloride, and sodium chloride). The concentration and duratio
n of each chemical treatment tested had previously been found to kill
zebra mussel veligers and juveniles. Several species (e.g., Elliptio d
ilatata, Lampsilis cardium, and Lasmigona complanata) incurred less th
an 10% mortality in chloride salt treatments, while in other species (
e.g., Obliquaria reflexa and Leptodea fragilis) mortality varied great
ly among treatment regimes. Treatments with benzalkonium chloride, for
malin, and hydrogen peroxide were less than 90% effective on juvenile
stages of zebra mussels and, therefore, were ruled out after prelimina
ry trials. Limited application of specific chemical treatments may be
feasible for more tolerant species; however, effective disinfection of
unionid shells will require the use of chemical treatment followed by
a quarantine period to completely remove zebra mussel larvae and juve
niles.