Whirling disease (Myxosoma cerebralis): control with ultraviolet irradiation and effect on fish.

Abstract

Water contaminated by Myxosoma cerebralis was disinfected with ultraviolet irradiation to control whirling disease. Irradiation at 18,000 microwatt seconds/cm2 (MWS/cm2) reduced infectivity of M. cerebralis by 31-86% and 27,650 MWS/cm2 reduced infectivity by 86-100%, even in the presence of a small amount of silt.