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51 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What do you call a fish with no eyes? |
Fsh |
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Glands within the epithelium of a fish's skin produce ________ which contains ________ and _______. |
Glands within the epithelium of a fish's skin produce mucous which contains lysozymes and antibodies. |
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Besides respiration, what do gills do? |
Osmoregulation Acid-base balance Excretion of nitrogenous wastes |
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What is unique about fish hearts? |
They have phagocytic endothelial cells in the atrium, so you can sample it for infectious disease investigation. |
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Fish kidneys have two portions. What do each do? |
Cranial: hematopoietic, endocrine, phagocytic Caudal: excretory functions |
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What can you do to your non-powder exam gloves before handling a fish? |
Wet them in the water |
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What anesthesia drug is most commonly used in fish? |
MS-222 |
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How do you know when a fish is properly sedated with MS-222? |
Purposeful movement stops, but the opercular movement continues. |
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What is commonly used by owners to sedate their fish, and why should it not be used? |
Clove oil - unknown mechanism of action - not approved by FDA - carcinogen concerns |
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Where is the most common location for blood collection on a fish? |
Caudal vein |
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Describe how to perform a skin scrape on a fish.
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Use a sterile scalpel or slide edge Scrape head-to-tail direction for a scale/mucous scrape Ideal sites: lateral sides, caudal fin, base of fins |
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What are two diagnostic sampling sites unique to fishes? |
Fin clips (1mm section) Gill biopsy (sedate, clip off terminal 2-4mm of 2-3 filaments) |
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What are some things ultrasound can be used for in fishes? |
Sexing Ultrasound guided deflation of swim bladder Biopsy ID masses |
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What are some common signs of a sick fish? |
Coughing Flashing Piping Drifting Abnormal floating Colour change Dropsy Exophthalmia |
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What type of bacteria are essential to maintaining water quality? |
Ammonia- and nitrogen-converting bacteria |
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What should a fish-owning client always bring for testing? |
A water sample! |
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What's the most important water quality parameter? Why? |
Temperature Influences oxygen, ammonia cycle, alkilinity, immune response, parasite/bacteria/algal growth |
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It's better to keep the temperature of a tank ______. |
It's better to keep the temperature of a tank lower. |
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Why is aeration needed in fish water? |
To allow gas exchange. Not only for the fish, but it's also required by bacteria for oxidation of ammonia. |
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What is the most toxic part of the nitrogen cycle for fish? Where does it come from? |
NH3 (free ammonia) Fish excrete free ammonia via their gills. During overcrowding, overfeeding, increased temperature, or an ineffective biofilter it can become toxic. |
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Describe the stages of the nitrogen cycle (with attention to bacteria names). |
1. NH3 oxidized to NH4. 2. Nitrosomonas oxidizes NH4 to nitrite (NO2) (very toxic to fish) 3. Nitrospira oxidizes nitrite to nitrate (NO3) (non-toxic to teleost fish) Note: Nitrospira bacteria growth is inhibited by high ammonia levels - cycle needs to be established. |
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How can you speed up ammonia cycling in a tank? |
Seed water from another tank (disease implications) Commercial products |
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How much of a filter should you clean at once? |
Only up to half. Make sure the good bacteria (which live in the filter) still stay there! |
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What's the safe range of pH for fishes? What will an acidic pH cause? |
pH 5-9 Acidic pH leads to gill edema and necrosis, electrolyte and osmoregulatory disturbances. |
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What's the most effective means of keeping a healthy tank? |
Water changes! |
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Describe some principles to follow for water changes. |
Small, frequent changes (5-10% weekly) are most effective. In emergencies, maximum of 50% water can be changed. Test the water every 1-2 weeks. |
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What are seven suggestions you can give to an owner who is dealing with tank collapse? |
1. Increase oxygenation (pumps, airstones) 2. Immediate 30-50% water change 3. Add 1-2 g/L of non-iodized sea salts to the water (freshwater fish) (or put saltwater fish into freshwater) 4. Stop feeding to improve water quality 5. Isolate sick fish, remove dead 6. Check filter 7. Water quality testing |
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What are two important fish viruses? |
Lymphocystis Spring viremia of carp |
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Lymphocystis is the most commonly recognized virus of aquarium fish, and targets... |
Epithelial tissue |
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What age group of fish are more susceptible to lymphocystis? How is it transmitted? |
Young fish are more susceptible Horizontal transmission |
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What are the clinical signs of lymphocystis? How do you treat it? |
White-yellow cauliflower-like proliferative growths, usually restricted to the fins and skin. Tx: None. Isolate, the infection is self-limiting. |
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What virus is reportable in fish? |
Spring viremia of carp (Rhabdovirus carpio) |
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What species are predisposed to spring viremia of carp? |
Koi Goldfish |
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What are the clinical signs of Rhabdovirus carpio? |
Hemorrhagic and fibrinous exudates Exophthalmia Skin darkening Side swimming |
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What causes disease in fish similar to Red Leg in amphibians? |
Aeromonas hydrophila |
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What species are susceptible to infection by Aeromonas hydrophila? |
Koi Goldfish Humans!!!! (It's zoonotic!) |
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What are some predisposing factors for infection with Aeromonas hydrophila? |
Poorly managed tanks or facilities |
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What are the clinical signs of Aeromonas hydrophila? How do you diagnose and treat it? |
CS: hemorrhagic septicema (ulcerative lesions, reddening) Dx: culture of heart, blood, kidneys Tx: antibiotics - oxytetracycline PO in medicated feed |
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What causes fish TB? |
Usually Mycobacterium marinum. Note: it's zoonotic too!!!!!!! Skin granumlomas in humans. |
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What are the clinical signs of fish TB? |
Ulcerative dermatitis Growths, nodules Lordosis, scoliosis Ascites Exophthalmus Loss of pigment Anorexia (Death) |
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How can you diagnose and treat fish TB? |
Dx: culture, histo; presumptive diagnosis from gross PM (multiple grey-white nodules in more than one organ) Tx: aggressive culling of sick fish; do not use antibiotics, as not typically effective. Ultraviolet light and alcohol for disinfection. |
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What causes cotton-wool mouth disease? |
Flavobacterium columnare (aka Columnaris disease) |
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With what water temperature is Columnaris disease associated? |
>15C |
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What are the clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of Columnaris disease? |
CS: necrotizing lesions on skin, mouth, gills Dx: wet mounts from lesions shows columns of bacteria. Tx: Oxytetracycline mixed into feed |
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What parasite do we need to know? |
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis THE ICH - it's a protozoan |
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What are the clinical signs of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis? |
White spots - might not always be seen Flashing/flicking Foam on water surface Rubbing and scratching on objects Upside-down swimming near surface Death from rupture of epithelium |
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At what stages are Ichthyophthirius multifiliis susceptible to treatment? |
Theront (infective - in tank environment) Tomont (immature - free swimming) (NOT trophozoite/trophont stages) |
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What would you see on pathology of ich? |
Trophozoites in tissues or on gross necropsy: characteristic horseshoe-shaped macronucleus |
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How can you treat for ich? |
Bath fish in low concentration salt water (best; won't harm biofilter, effective, and practical) Formalin baths (hard on fish, small margin of safety, kills biofilter bacteria) Increase water temp to ~30C for 3 days |
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What should you not use to treat white spot disease? |
Malachite green - it's a carcinogen, and prohibited by Health Canada in food fishes. (Also probably not formalin) |
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What are six golden rules for preventing aquarium disease? |
1. Water quality!!!!! 2. Minimize fluctuations 3. Treat the fish, not the tank (except with ich) 4. Have a back-up tank 5. Quarantine all new arrivals 6. Use commercial products |
