Lufenuron Medicated Feed for Salmon Sea Lice Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for controlling sea lice infestations in fish farming, such as using chemicals like organophosphates and chitin synthesis inhibitors, face challenges including drug resistance and environmental toxicity, and existing formulations like lufenuron as an injectable provide only short-term protection, which is insufficient for the entire salmon development cycle.

Innovation Solution

Administering lufenuron orally to fish at a daily dose of 1 to 30 mg/kg for 3 to 14 days, either before or during their transition to seawater, to achieve prolonged protection against sea lice, with the lufenuron concentration maintained in the fish for at least 5 months through in-feed treatment using medicated fish feed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If lufenuron is administered as an injectable treatment, then protection against sea louse infestation is provided for 128 days, but the treatment is cumbersome for farm personnel and creates stress to the fish

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection durationVSAvoidtreatment convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical injection method with oral administration through medicated feed. Instead of physically injecting each fish individually, the active ingredient lufenuron is delivered through the feed system, transforming a labor-intensive mechanical process into a simple feeding operation that maintains long-term protection efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces medicated feed as an intermediary carrier to deliver lufenuron to the fish. The feed acts as a mediator between the treatment objective and the fish population, allowing continuous delivery of the active ingredient through the natural feeding process without requiring direct handling or injection of each fish.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If lufenuron is administered as an injectable treatment, then protection against sea louse infestation is provided for 128 days, but this duration is no longer regarded as sufficient for the entire salmon development cycle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection durationVSAvoidcoverage of development cycle

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous delivery of lufenuron through medicated feed over an extended period (5-6 months), ensuring uninterrupted protection throughout the entire salmon development cycle. This continuous action replaces the discrete injection approach, maintaining therapeutic levels of the active ingredient continuously rather than relying on a single long-acting injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent administers lufenuron through feed starting before sea transfer and continuing through the sea phase, proactively establishing protection before sea louse infestation becomes a significant threat and maintaining it throughout the vulnerable development period, rather than waiting for infestation to occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If higher doses of chemical compounds are employed to overcome drug resistance, then sea louse control effectiveness is improved, but environmental toxicology issues are accelerated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the delivery parameters of lufenuron from high-dose injection to lower-dose continuous oral administration. By distributing the total dose over an extended period through feed, the peak concentrations are reduced while maintaining cumulative efficacy, thereby improving control reliability without exacerbating environmental toxicity concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes medicated feed as a disposable delivery vehicle that can be easily adjusted or discontinued. The feed-based system allows flexible dosing and can be stopped or modified without the commitments associated with injection protocols, enabling adaptive management that balances effectiveness with environmental considerations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach provides effective and long-lasting protection against sea lice for an extended period, maintaining therapeutically effective concentrations in the fish for up to 5 months, effectively controlling sea lice infestations and reducing the need for frequent treatments.

Implementation Method 1

lufenuron, which is a member of the chemical class of benzoylureas, in the control of sea louse infestations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChitin synthesis inhibition:

Data Source

PatentEP3132684B1Treatment of fish populations with lufenuron

Publication Date: 2019.10.09 ELANCO TIERGESUNDHEIT AG

AI summary

The present invention concerns the use of lufenuron for controlling sea lice in a fish population, which comprises feeding lufenuron to the fish population according to a specific regime as outlined in the specification and claims. The process is especially suited for the treatment of salmon and provides prolonged effective protection against sea lice at sea.