Picine Tuberculosis AKA: Mycobacteriosis, Fish TB, acid-fast disease

**tanks4thememories** · 09-03-2008, 06:58 AM

http://iacuc.tennessee.edu/pdf/OHP/A...acteriosis.pdf

The University of Tennessee
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Occupational Health Program

ATYPICAL MYCOBACTERIOSIS

People at Risk:
People caring for infective amphibians and fish as well as those
performing necropsies on infected animals are at risk for
contracting the disease. Immunocompromised people have a
greater potential for serious disease symptoms. The disease is very
rare in people with normal immune systems.

Transmission:
Atypical Mycobacteria are gram positive, acid fast rods that are
non-motile and found throughout the environment. People may be
infected by inhaling or swallowing infective droplets, or by coming
into contact with infective animals or their aquaria. M. fortuitum,
M. chelonei, M. marinum, and M. xenopi are some of the species
that affect fish and amphibians.

Symptoms:
In fish and amphibians, the disease usually manifests as chronic
wasting, edema, and nodules under the skin.
The signs of atypical mycobacteriosis in humans usually consist of a
single lesion (nodule) on hands or fingers at the site of a cut or
abrasion. This usually resolves over time without treatment.
Occasionally the organism can spread to nearby lymph nodes,
resulting in nodules in the lymph nodes as well as the site of the
original infection. Rarely, infection can spread to joints, tendons,
and bones.
Immunocompromised individuals are more prone to severe
infection, and show symptoms of respiratory or generalized disease.

Diagnosis and Prevention:
Diagnosis is based on symptoms and detection of microorganisms
microscopically, through histology, and/or culture. Treatment
consists of antibiotics.
Use gloves when working with fish and amphibians and when
cleaning their aquaria. Always wash hands thoroughly after
handling animals and aquaria.

**kwhale** · 09-06-2008, 02:33 AM

I appreciate ur helpful and comprehensive feedback. Since my last post, I reduced the food and the convict guy has lost a good deal of its bloated belly. All other folks in the tank are doing well. I'll keep closely watching them though.
Looks like I was being hypochondriac, the euthenized fish didn't have any lesions and I tend to start thinking that maybe the curved backbone was not really TB. From what you said, looks like having something like that happening over night is NOT what one can expect from a slow growing disease.
I'll post in here in the case of something new happening.
Thank you very much good fella.

**tanks4thememories** · 09-06-2008, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by kwhale

I appreciate ur helpful and comprehensive feedback. Since my last post, I reduced the food and the convict guy has lost a good deal of its bloated belly. All other folks in the tank are doing well. I'll keep closely watching them though.
Looks like I was being hypochondriac, the euthenized fish didn't have any lesions and I tend to start thinking that maybe the curved backbone was not really TB. From what you said, looks like having something like that happening over night is NOT what one can expect from a slow growing disease.
I'll post in here in the case of something new happening.
Thank you very much good fella.

Well it could be that you caught whatever it is early and removed the infected fish and now things are recovering nicely...lol Remember Frequent water changes, Once a week, and stay vigilant just like you have been doing....

**kwhale** · 09-07-2008, 02:28 AM

Hi there fish crazy people!

I am looking for an effective chemical or something, besides bleach, PP, various acids and salt to disinfect aquarium equipment such as net, siphon, ...
Your feedback would be highly appreciated.

**Red** · 09-07-2008, 02:30 AM

good ole hot water....

**kwhale** · 09-07-2008, 02:34 AM

you are basically getting at an autoclave which I can't afford!
Think bout it Mr. pussycat, how to boil a net with its long handle, and wet heat will definitely disfigure/kill all plastic stuff like siphon. play again buddy.