High level efficacy of lufenuron against sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) linked to rapid impact on moulting processes

This study investigates the transcriptomic responses of salmon lice (L. salmonis) to five concentrations (30, 300, 700, 1000, and 1500 ppb) of lufenuron (Elanco Animal Health) Copepodid-staged larvae of L. salmonis were separated in to seven groups (n = 3 pools of approxximately 500 lice). Five of these groups were exposed to lufnuron at 30, 300, 700, 1000, or 1500 ppb lufenuron. Two control groups, one acetone only and one seawater only, were also used. The bioassay (exposures) lasted 3 h before all groups of lice were moved to a sea water holding container for 21 h. Lice were then stored at -80C for RNA extraction and microarray analyses.