Negative effects of malachite green and possibilities of its replacement in the treatment of fish eggs and fish: a review

Abstract

Malachite green has been used as an effective compound to control external fungal and protozoan infections of fish since 1933 but it has never been registered as a veterinary drug for use in food fish because of its potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and teratogenicity in mammals. The present paper reviews negative side-effects of malachite green including its accumulation and persistence in fish that have been treated and describes other alternative substances for the treatment of fish and fish eggs.

Keywords

• malachite green
• fish baths
• toxicity
• accumulation
• residues in fish
• aquatic environment
• protozoan ectoparasites
• fungal infections