McMurray
Fish Fanatic
Flavobacterium columnare.
By: Author withheld (IF you would like to know who made this PM me)
18 June 2006
This report has been researched and developed via reading and making in my own words from other reports and scientifical facts on the web and education documents.
This disease looks the same as Neon tetra disease but it is able to be cured.
The disease commonly occurs in warm water fish when water temperatures are in the range of 25 to 32o C (77 to 90o F).
The muscle was the main target of the bacteria. Externally signs were fading skin colour and white areas of necrosis (cell death).
The bacteria isolated were different from European and American strains of the bacteria, but similar to Asian strains, and was very virulent to ornamental strains. The abstract that have been seen in then states that the implication for health control measures for both imported and domestic fish is the subject of
discussion.
Identification
Fish with columnaris usually havebrown to yellowish-brown lesions (sores) on their gills, skin and/or fins. The bacteria attach to the gill surface, grow in spreading patches, and eventually cover individual gill filaments. This results in cell death. Portions of the gills are eroded by proteinand cartilage-degrading enzymes produced by the bacteria. Skin lesions produced by columnaris initially are very shallow and may
appear as an area that has lost its natural shiny appearance. More advanced lesions may be round or oval in shape, yellowish-brown in color, with an open ulcer in the center. A characteristic lesion produced
by columnaris is a pale white band encircling the body, often referred to as saddleback condition. As the infection progresses, a yellowish-brown ulcer often is found in the center of the "saddle." Additionally, it is not unusual to find a yellowishbrown, mucus-like growth of columnaris bacteria inside the
fish's mouth
Cause
Columnaris bacteria probably occur in most, if not all, aquaculture environments. The bacteria can cause disease under normal culture conditions, but more likely when fish are stressed.
Stressful conditions favoring columnaris disease include low oxygen, high ammonia, high nitrite, high water temperatures, rough handling, mechanical injury, and crowding.
Columnaris occurs frequently in fish raised intensively in cages and in closed recirculating systems and is attributed to crowding and cage abrasions. Once established, the infection can spread quickly and
cause high mortality rates. While stressful conditions can contribute to columnaris infections, the presence of columnaris may also lead to secondary infection or other diseases.
Treatment
Success has been reported for treating external and internal columnaris infections with Terramycin ®(oxytetracyline HCl) medicated feed. Better results are usually obtained if affected fish are treated very soon after the disease is detected. This is true especially if the disease causes the fish to eat less or stop eating entirely. Terramycin¨ medicated feed is administered for 10 days. Terramycin¨ medicated feed and feeding rates vary according to the strength of the medicated feed mixture
Be aware tha this is very heard to difer from NTD but this should be considered
By: Author withheld (IF you would like to know who made this PM me)
18 June 2006
This report has been researched and developed via reading and making in my own words from other reports and scientifical facts on the web and education documents.
This disease looks the same as Neon tetra disease but it is able to be cured.
The disease commonly occurs in warm water fish when water temperatures are in the range of 25 to 32o C (77 to 90o F).
The muscle was the main target of the bacteria. Externally signs were fading skin colour and white areas of necrosis (cell death).
The bacteria isolated were different from European and American strains of the bacteria, but similar to Asian strains, and was very virulent to ornamental strains. The abstract that have been seen in then states that the implication for health control measures for both imported and domestic fish is the subject of
discussion.
Identification
Fish with columnaris usually havebrown to yellowish-brown lesions (sores) on their gills, skin and/or fins. The bacteria attach to the gill surface, grow in spreading patches, and eventually cover individual gill filaments. This results in cell death. Portions of the gills are eroded by proteinand cartilage-degrading enzymes produced by the bacteria. Skin lesions produced by columnaris initially are very shallow and may
appear as an area that has lost its natural shiny appearance. More advanced lesions may be round or oval in shape, yellowish-brown in color, with an open ulcer in the center. A characteristic lesion produced
by columnaris is a pale white band encircling the body, often referred to as saddleback condition. As the infection progresses, a yellowish-brown ulcer often is found in the center of the "saddle." Additionally, it is not unusual to find a yellowishbrown, mucus-like growth of columnaris bacteria inside the
fish's mouth
Cause
Columnaris bacteria probably occur in most, if not all, aquaculture environments. The bacteria can cause disease under normal culture conditions, but more likely when fish are stressed.
Stressful conditions favoring columnaris disease include low oxygen, high ammonia, high nitrite, high water temperatures, rough handling, mechanical injury, and crowding.
Columnaris occurs frequently in fish raised intensively in cages and in closed recirculating systems and is attributed to crowding and cage abrasions. Once established, the infection can spread quickly and
cause high mortality rates. While stressful conditions can contribute to columnaris infections, the presence of columnaris may also lead to secondary infection or other diseases.
Treatment
Success has been reported for treating external and internal columnaris infections with Terramycin ®(oxytetracyline HCl) medicated feed. Better results are usually obtained if affected fish are treated very soon after the disease is detected. This is true especially if the disease causes the fish to eat less or stop eating entirely. Terramycin¨ medicated feed is administered for 10 days. Terramycin¨ medicated feed and feeding rates vary according to the strength of the medicated feed mixture
Be aware tha this is very heard to difer from NTD but this should be considered
