Zoonotic Diseases Acquired From Fish
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Nov 3rd, 2007 05:05 AM
N2Biomes
Category: General Fishkeeping
Header/Title: Zoonotic Diseases Acquired From Fish
Name of author: LadySparky
Topic: Diseases
Website of origin: PlecoFanatics.com http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=27983
Zoonotic Disease is the transmission of disease from an animal to humans. The following is a
list of some of the diseases carried by fish that have been known to infect humans. There are
other infectious organisms of fish origin, so this is an incomplete list. Not all are known to be of
a concern to the average fish-keeping hobbyist and most of these infections are rare. The list is
not intended to alarm anyone, but rather give the freshwater hobbyist information and to take
precautions when warranted. We will expand the list if/when appropriate. If you have any
recommendations or corrections for this sticky please feel free to contact me.
The major routes of entry into the human body are primarily ingestion of aquarium water, open
wounds and direct contact (skin to skin) with an infected fish, especially when the aquarist has
open wounds or abrasions. It is important to note that the status of the human immune system
plays a vital role in the potential and severity of these diseases to infect humans. A healthy
person may only experience some flu-like symptoms, but those hobbyists with compromised
immune systems, children, the elderly or pregnant women must take precautions or run the
risk of becoming quite ill.
BACTERIAL INFECTIONS:
via Ingestion of Infected Aquarium Water:
Staphylococcus (risk exists)
Plesiomonas shigelloides (known cases)
Aeromonas (known cases)
Pseudomonas (risk exists)
via Skin Contact with Infected Aquarium Water:
Mycobacterium (known cases)
Nocardia (risk exists)
Vibrio (known cases)
Aeromonas (known cases)
Pseudomonas (risk exists)
Edwardsiella (known cases)
via Direct Skin Contact with Infected Fish:
Erysipelothrix (known cases)
Mycobacterium (risk exists)
Nocardia (risk exists)
Klebsiella (known cases)
Edwardsiella (known cases)
Other Infections via Direct Skin Contact with Infected Fish:
Protozoa (risk exists)
Viral: Calicivirus (risk exists)
Candida (risk exists)
The above information taken from:
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) Institutional Animal Care
and Use Committee (IACUC)
http://iacuc.al.umces.edu/zoonotic-diseases.html
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Protozoal infections may also include Giardia.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteria can be found in the external mucus of some fresh and
saltwater fish. This causes no disease in fish, but has the potential to infect humans. There are
three (3) described forms that infect humans.
(1) Local skin infection, which causes swelling and redness (erysipeloid) most often found on
the aquarist’s fingers or hands.
(2) Infection that spreads to adjacent tissues.
(3) A form that causes septicemia.
Mycobacterium In The Fish Tank:
We all know about tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis in humans is caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis. Fish TB is also caused by a Mycobacterium, but not
Mycobacterium tuberculosis nor Mycobacterium bovis. However, humans remain suspectible to
the three non-tuburculoid Mycobacteria which causes disease in fish. Those three (3) forms
most often found in infected aquarium fish are:
Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonei, and Mycobacterium marinum.
Mycobacterium marinum is sometimes referred to as "fish tank granloma". Frequently these
infections are limited to the skin, especially the hands, but in people with suppressed immune
systems the infection has been known to spread throughout the body.
Mycobacterium marinum symptoms may include:
~A bump or ulcer which develops 2 or 3 weeks after exposure. This is most often at the same
site as a previous open wound.
~ Signs of the infection spreading into the surrounding soft tissues and localized pain or
tenderness.
~Tenderness in nearby joints, tendons or lymphnodes, fever and/or nausea.
Anyone who suspects they have a Mycobacterium marinum infection should waste no time in
contacting their health care provider.
ZOONOTIC PRECAUTIONS:
~ Follow guidelines for good hygiene and hand-washing techniques after each encounter with
the aquarium.
~ Wear latex gloves when handling fish. This not only protects you from disease, but also helps
to prevent damaging the fish’s slime coat during handling. Some good aquarium shops sell
heavy duty long sleeve rubber gloves, which may prove useful.
~ Use waterproof band-aides on all exposed open wounds then be sure to wear gloves.
~ Do not ingest the tank water.
~ Keep the tank and all maintenance equipment clean.
~ Healthy adults should avoid repeated exposure to aquarium water when ill.
~ Children, elderly, pregnant women and immune suppressed individuals should discuss
zoonotic diseases with their health care provider.
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