Inhibition of Growth for Select Gram-Negative Bacteria by Tricaine Methane Sulfonate (MS-222)
Luke A. Fedewa1, BSc, MSc, Angela Lindell2, BSc
1. University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory,
Aiken, South Carolina, 29802 USA
2. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina,
29802 USA
ABSTRACT:
Tricaine methane sulfonate (MS-222 or Tricaine) is a commonly
used agent for anesthesia
and euthanasia in aquatic organisms. Bacterial diseases are routinely
discovered in captive aquatic verte- brates, and bacterial culture is
often performed to identify potential pathogens. Currently, no study has
evaluated the effect of MS-222 on bacterial isolation from the aquatic
environment. Minimum inhibitory concentration tests using a gradient of
MS-222 were performed for 11 species of Gram-negative bacteria isolated
from aquatic environments. MS-222 inhibited the growth of all bacterial
species at 5000 mg/L, while bacterial growth was depressed at MS-222 concentrations
as low as 200 mg/L. Based on these find- ings, special care should be
taken when interpreting the results of bacterial culture when MS-222 is
used to anesthetize or euthanize fish or amphibians.
KEY WORDS: tricaine methane sulfonate, bacteria, euthanasia,
MS-222, minimum inhibitory concentra- tion, anesthesia.
SREL Reprint #2881
Fedewa, L. A. and A. H. Lindell. 2005. Inhibition of growth for select gram-negative bacteria by tricaine methane sulfonate (MS-222). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery 15:13-17.
