Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two additional indications for AQUAFLOR® (florfenicol*) Type A Medicated Article. The supplemental approval provides for an increase in the maximum daily dosage for freshwater-reared finfish other than freshwater-reared warmwater finfish to provide a dosage range of 10 – 15 mg/kg body weight/day and changes the conditions of use to permit the use of florfenicol in recirculating aquaculture systems.
AQUAFLOR is now approved for use in freshwater-reared salmonids for control of mortality due to furunculosis associated with Aeromonas salmonicida and for control of mortality due to coldwater disease associated with Flavobacterium psychrophilum at a maximum dose rate of 15 mg/kg, which is reflected on the new label as 10-15 mg/kg.
In addition, AQUAFLOR can be used for control of mortality due to columnaris disease in all freshwater-reared finfish, including freshwater-reared salmonids. “This new dose rate allows producers of trout and other freshwater-reared salmonids increased flexibility in managing these three important bacterial diseases,” said Tim Kniffen, D.V.M., technical services manager, Merck Animal Health. “We are pleased to be able to continue to offer our customers solutions-focused products that meet the ever-changing needs of their businesses.
AQUAFLOR is the first antibiotic licensed for U.S. aquaculture in more than 20 years and addresses the need for a fast-acting, broad-spectrum, highly-palatable, antibiotic premix. It can be top-coated or incorporated in both floating and sinking feeds and is highly palatable, which helps to optimize antibiotic intake.
In support of these new indications, the AQUAFLOR website – AQUAFLOR-usa.com – has been updated to include the latest product bulletin, as well as new VFD forms. The site continues to feature scientific articles, educational brochures and industry links, as well as important contact information. For more details about AQUAFLOR and VFD protocols, producers also may contact their extension specialist, veterinarian, diagnostician or feed company representative, or call Merck Animal Health at 1-800-521-5767.
*Florfenicol, the active ingredient in AQUAFLOR, is a synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic shown to be highly effective in in vitro and in vivo studies against an extensive range of aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Unlike sulfa drugs and tetracyclines, however, florfenicol is used exclusively in farm-raised fish and food animals. It is not used in human medicine.
AQUAFLOR is classified by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine as a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) drug, a category established in 1999 to help the agency more closely control new in-feed therapeutic products, primarily antimicrobials, and their use in food animals. Producers may obtain VFD drugs through normal feed distribution channels, but they do require a signed Veterinary Feed Directive from a licensed veterinarian.
