The in vitro and in vivo effect of tannic acid on Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) to treat ichthyophthiriasis

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The in vitro antiparasitic effect of polyphenol tannic acid (TA) on Ichthyophthirius multifiliis theronts and tomonts was evaluated. In vitro antiparasitic assays revealed that TA in a dose‐ and time‐dependent pattern through the damage of parasite plasma membrane could be 100% effective against I. multifiliis theronts at concentrations of 8 and 11 ppm during all the exposure times (45–270 min). The tomonts proliferation was completely inhibited by penetrating TA (at least 15 ppm for 22‐hr exposure) into encysted tomont across the cyst wall. However, 10 ppm TA could result in a ninefold decrease in the population of live tomonts compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). Although at theront concentrations of over 6,000 per zebrafish ( Danio rerio ), a 100% prevalence of ichthyophthiriasis during a 5‐day exposure was recorded, results of in vivo tests showed that the parasite that pretreated up to 10 ppm TA for 70 min had not any capability to infect the studied zebrafish population. The acute toxicity (96 hr‐LC 50 ) of TA for zebrafish was 19.51 ppm. Thus, TA can be considered as a natural therapeutant to safely and efficiently improve the health of aquatic systems by controlling ichthyophthiriasis.