Hi Buck,

Hi Buck,<= /span>

See the message below regarding the vinegar dip and guidelines = for largemouth bass that you notice with the white film.

As far as reporting, please advise anyone noticing this infecti= on to note the date, location and waterbody and fo= rward that information to me.

Hopefully, this seemingly early spring will knock the infection back.

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin Dockendorf

District 1 Fisheries Biologist

(252) 335-9898 (office)

(252) 312-6122 (cell)

-----Original Message-----
From: Chad Thomas [mailto:thomascd@roadrunner.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 11:33 AM
To: Kevin Dockendorf
Subject: Trichodina treatment

Kevin,

Here is the e-mail I distributed to bass clubs in 2002. Best news was that as the water warms, the parasite dies.

Chad

A= n update on the status of the Trichodina infection is as follows:

I= t turns out that there is a prescription to cure an infected fish, and it involves = the use of acetic acid. Acetic acid is FDA approved for use in treatment = of food fish, and is 100% safe and non-toxic to the environment. As it t= urns out, regular household vinegar is approximately 5% acetic acid. To tr= eat an infected fish, follow this method:

1) Add ½ cup of vinegar per gallon of water in a bucket or container. 2 ½ cups would treat= 5 gallons of water.

2) Dip the infected fish in this mixture for NO MORE than 60 seconds (one minute).

3) Release the fish immediately.<= /span>

&= nbsp;

I= would caution that overexposure to the vinegar solution will kill the bass, so if= you plan to follow this treatment, please adhere to the guidelines above. = For this reason, It would probably be best NOT to ad= d the vinegar to your livewells, but instead have som= e type of container on board for treatment. Another option would be to treat= the bass after they are weighed in, just before release, at the boat ramp. = ; A number 8 wash tub, or some other large container= could be set aside for the vinegar dip before the fish are released.