Unlocking Eco-solutions: Analyzing parasitic disease resistance in Yellow River carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) under different ecological treatments

Abstract

Combatting parasitic diseases in intensive aquaculture is crucial for sustainable and healthy fish production. The use of chemical pesticides, although effective, poses environmental and public health risks. To address this issue, we investigated the impact of ecological treatments on the occurrence of parasitic diseases in intensive culture of Yellow River carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) pond. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 160 ponds, and the data were collected through a normative questionnaire which included the main factors related to ecological management such as pond water sources and depth, stocking methods, whether or not mixed culture with carps, water quality adjustment and sediment operation methods. Whether parasitic diseases have happened was determined by combination of both field investigation and laboratory diagnostic methods. For assessment the relationship between ecological treatments and parasitosis occurrence, the data were analyzed using two methods, including univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. The final model revealed the influence of five significant ecological treatments (P < 0.05) on parasitosis occurrence in the ponds. The three ecological treatments significantly reduced disease occurrence, which were mixed culture with silver and/or bighead carp, maintaining water quality at intervals of ≤7 days, and aeration time > 10 h in 24 h. Additionally, utilizing underground water, avoiding sediment stirring increased the incidence of the parasitosis. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of appropriate ecological treatments in minimizing parasitic diseases in Yellow River carp, supporting sustainable aquaculture development.