Rach, J.J., M. P. Gaikowski, and T.M. Schreier.  2001.  Efficacy of hydrogen peroxide to control 
mortality associated with saprolegniasis on paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), walleye 
(Stizostedion vitreum), and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) eggs. Completion report for 
study TOX-94-00048-2.  Submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for 
Veterinary Medicine INAD 10-023.  August 28, 2001.  111pp.



The efficacy of hydrogen peroxide to control egg mortality of three freshwater fish 
species was evaluated in a miniature egg jar incubation system.  Non-eyed eggs of 
walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), white sucker (Catostomus commersonii), and paddlefish 
(Polyodon spathula) were cultured in egg jars or aquaria and treated for 15 minutes 
every-other-day with 0 (untreated control), 283, 565, and 1,130 mg/L of hydrogen 
peroxide until the viable eggs hatched.  The total number of fry in each egg jar or aquaria 
was enumerated either by counting individual fry or by extrapolating the total number of 
fry based on the total wet weight (g) of fry in a vessel multiplied by number of fry/g.  The 
percent of eggs that hatched was determined by dividing the total number of fry by the 
initial number of eggs that were placed in each egg jar.  The temperature (?C), dissolved 
oxygen (mg/L), and pH of well water were measured daily in controls and during each 
hydrogen peroxide treatment 10 min after the treatment started.  Concentrations of 
hydrogen peroxide were verified analytically for each treatment by a titrimetric method.   
Fungal infections (visible fungus) engulfed most of the unmedicated control eggs 
whereas the treated eggs had reduced or no visible fungus on the eggs.  Hydrogen 
peroxide significantly increased the probability of egg hatch for all three species tested, 
with the highest percent hatch occurring in those eggs in the 1,130 mg/L treatment 
groups.  Hydrogen peroxide treatment appeared to reduce the spread of fungus to healthy 
eggs, the apparent cause of the increased probability of hatch.  In this study, 283 mg/L 
was sufficient to significantly increase the probability of hatch for walleye and white 
sucker eggs over that of untreated controls.  Paddlefish eggs, however, required treatment 
at 1,130 mg/L to significantly increase the probability of egg hatch.  Although 283 mg/L 
was the minimum effective concentration tested, treatments administered between 500 
and 1000 mg/L are more likely to produce effective treatments in actual production egg 
incubation systems.
Rach,  J.J., M.P. Gaikowski, T.M. Schreier, C.A. Perkins  and S.M. Schleis.  2001.  
Safety of hydrogen peroxide to non-eyed and eyed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 
eggs.  Completion report for study TOX-94-00048-3.  Submitted to the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine INAD 10-023.  September 26, 
2001.  202 pp.