A new method to reduce sea lice by chitinoilytic enzymes: verification

Project summary

A novel method to reduce the number of sea lice is here tested. The method uses chitinolytic enzymes to attack the exoskeleton of sea lice, and is patented in Norway and Great Britan (NO20160259A, GB1602762.5A). Little is known about the exoskeleton of sea lice. However, inhibitors of chitin synthesis, like Diflubenzuron and Teflubenzuron, is currently used as a treatment and affect molting stages but not adult stages of sea lice. Also, previous experiments have shown that N-acetylglucosamin (monomers of chitin) is released when chitinolytic enzymes are added to sea lice. 

Chitinolytic enzymes are natural present in marine environment and will, as other proteins, degrade fast in nature which is not the case ot all current chemotherapautica. Chitinolytic enzymes will also affect all stages of sea lice that contain chitin, including the adult stages. Since the enzymes attack the end-product, resistance in sea lice seems less likely since there is no feed-back mekanisms.

Salmon, on the other hand, do not contain chitin. Chitinolytic enzymes will therefore not affect the fish, which means that treatments will be gentle. Initiallally, bath treatment will be tested, which reduces handling of the fish and protect fish welfare.

Even though chitinolytic enzymes are biodegradable, it will also be possible to reduce spilling by collecting the enzymes (e.g. by adding shrimp shells that binds the enzymes since they contain chitin).