FISH DISEASE FACTS #1 - Types of infectious fish diseases

There are four basic types of infectious fish disease. These types are:

Viral diseases
• Viruses are microorganisms that require the tissue of the host (fish) to multiply
• Are difficult to discern from bacterial infections
• Viruses cannot be medicated. The fish’s immune system must fight the virus.
• Proper water quality and nutrition will aid the fish in fighting the virus
• Treatment can be given for secondary infections
• An example of a viral disease is Lymphocystis
(Jepson, 2004) (Klinger, Francis-Floyd, 2006)

More examples from jdizine: velvet or rust, costia, neon tetra disease, blugea and henneguya, chilodonella

Bacterial diseases
• Microorganisms that may be naturally present in the aquarium
• Are one of two types: gram-negative and gram-positive
• Gram-negative and gram-positive refers to the color of the bacteria when stained and viewed under a microscope
• Gram-negative infections are the most common
• Can be secondary to other problems, such as stress or other diseases
• Can be internal or external
• Are treated with antibiotics
• Examples of bacterial diseases include Fish Tuberculosis and Columnaris
(Francis-Floyd, 2006) (Jepson, 2004)

Fungal diseases
• Fungal spores are common in the aquarium
• Reproduce or grow in living or dead matter
• Organic debris is processed by fungi
• Fungal diseases are secondary to injury, infection, stress, poor water quality
• Are treated with anti-fungal medications and good environmental management
• Examples of fungal infections are Ichthyophoniasis and Gill Rot
(Jepson, 2004) (Klinger, Francis-Floyd, 2006)

Parasitic diseases
• Caused by fish lice, worms, flukes or microscopic animals called protozoa
• Disease may be internal or external
• Are introduced by other fish or organisms such as snails
• Examples of protozoan parasitic diseases are Ichthyophthirius, Velvet disease and Hexamita
(Francis-Floyd, 2006) (Jepson, 2004) (Prescott, 2006)

More types from jdizine:
Non- infectious: tumors, congenial abnormalties, injuries, constipation

Miscellaneous: Hole in the Head (HITH), and lateral line erosion, eye problems, swim- bladder disease

Next time: FISH DISEASE FACTS #2 – Treatment methods

References

Francis-Floyd, R. (2006). Introduction to fish health management. Retrieved March 13, 2006, from the University of Florida, IFAS Extension Web site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA004.

Jepson, L. (2004). Common fish diseases. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.

Klinger, R.E., Francis-Floyd, R. (2006). Introduction to viral diseases of fish. Retrieved March 13, 2006, from the University of Florida, IFAS Extension Web Site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_FA034.
Klinger, R.E., Francis-Floyd, R. (2006). Fungal diseases of fish. Retrieved March 13, 2006, from the University of Florida, IFAS Extension Web site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM033.

Prescott, S. (2006). Diseases of tropical fish. Retrieved March 13, 2006, from http://www.thepetprofessor.com/articles/article.aspx?id=470.

Prescott, S. (2006). Infections diseases of fish (Google cache version). Retrieved March 13, 2006, from http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:Xd5Nsf...us&ct=clnk&cd=7.

Edited to include disease type examples. FishyFry - 03/13/06
Editied to add jdizine's contributions. FishyFry - 03/15/06