Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(12):527-539 | DOI: 10.17221/2027-VETMED

Negative effects of malachite green and possibilities of its replacement in the treatment of fish eggs and fish: a review

E. Sudova1, J. Machova1, Z. Svobodova1,2, T. Vesely3
1 University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Vodnany, Czech Republic
2 University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
3 Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

Malachite green has been used as an effective compound to control external fungal and protozoan infections of fish since 1933 but it has never been registered as a veterinary drug for use in food fish because of its potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and teratogenicity in mammals. The present paper reviews negative side-effects of malachite green including its accumulation and persistence in fish that have been treated and describes other alternative substances for the treatment of fish and fish eggs.

Keywords: malachite green; fish baths; toxicity; accumulation; residues in fish; aquatic environment; protozoan ectoparasites; fungal infections

Published: December 31, 2007  Show citation

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Sudova E, Machova J, Svobodova Z, Vesely T. Negative effects of malachite green and possibilities of its replacement in the treatment of fish eggs and fish: a review. Vet Med-Czech. 2007;52(12):527-539. doi: 10.17221/2027-VETMED.
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