New cure for sick fish. (Science Update).(potassium permanganate is cure for protozoan parasite)(Brief Article) From: Agricultural Research | Date: March 1, 2002| Author: Straus, David L.; Griffin, Billy R. | COPYRIGHT 2002 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The protozoan parasite that causes ich, or whitespot, in fish is no match for potassium permanganate. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis quickly succumbs even to minuscule doses--as small as 1 part per million. At least its microscopic, free-swimming stage called a theront does. After burrowing into fish skin or gills to feed on mucus and tissue, theronts grow into trophonts that create small, white pustules. The mature trophont drops off the fish and forms a cyst in which up to 1,000 th...