Antiparasitic effect of Mentha × villosa hydrolate against monogenean parasites of the Nile tilapia

Abstract

This paper o evaluated different concentrations and exposure times of Mentha × villosa hydrolate for the control of monogeneans in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Mentha × villosa leaves (150 g) were homogenized and the hydrolate was obtained by hydrodistillation for 4 h in a Clevenger apparatus. Fifty tilapia were then divided into ten groups (five fish each) and subjected to therapeutic baths for 15 minutes in five different hydrolate concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 ml.L-1;× 2 replicates). After a suitable hydrolate concentration was identified, another 50 tilapia were divided into ten groups (five fish each) and subjected to therapeutic baths at the identified hydrolate concentration for five different durations (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes;× 2 replicates). In both steps, the mucus and gills were analyzed to determine parasitological indices. The hydrolate concentration of 20 ml.L-1 showed an efficacy of 59.9% and the biggest decrease in pathogen prevalence, average abundance, and average infection compared to the control and the lowest concentration (10 ml.L-1). For duration, the best antiparasitic effects were achieved with the 60-minute therapeutic bath, as it resulted in 89.28% antiparasitic efficacy. Therefore, it was concluded that therapeutic baths of M. × villosa hydrolate at a concentration of 20 ml.L-1 for 60 minutes have satisfactory antiparasitic effects and could be used to control monogenetic infestations in the gills and mucus of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus).