Non-Equilibrium Plasma Treatment of Fast-Flowing Liquids as a Tool for the Elimination of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Abstract

This work evaluates high-throughput plasma remediation of aquaculture water contaminated with fish parasitic protozoan Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a causative agent of white spot disease. Treatment was performed using CaviPlasma technology, based on electric discharge in a cavitation cloud of fast-flowing liquid with specific input energy of 8 and 42 kJ/L at 1 m3/h. Contaminated water was plasma-treated and added into tanks with healthy wels catfish (Silurus glanis). After 6 days, no parasites were detected in fish receiving treated water, whereas the positive control group developed heavy infection. These results demonstrate that CaviPlasma treatment effectively prevented white spot disease and confirmed the promising potential of plasma technologies for “green” water sanitization in recirculating aquaculture systems.