ICH, Does ingestion of...

[ChileRelleno]

I'm curious as to what people think about the severity and/or tenancity of a ICH infestation being influenced by the ingestion of the protozoa?
In particular I'm talking about a infested fish being eaten by another fish, e.g. a cichlid eating a infected feeder.

I've encountered a differing personal opinion, the opinion states that in their experience a fish who ingested the ICH protozoa takes significantly longer to treat/cure.
I claim this to be totally bogus info, particularly when related on-line in a fish forum to others seeking advice on treating their fish.
ICH is one of the most well studied/documented parasites we deal with and there is nothing I've ever experienced nor read even hinting at the possibility of ingestion having a influence on severity/tenacity.
Opinions such as this when related in open forum leads to the continuation/dissemination of false facts/mis-information which may be taken by the ignorant as factual information and spread even further.

Example: The fish-myth that "Ich is always present in the aquarium."

Anyways...
What do you think? Fact or fantasy

[plah831]

very interesting question, Chile! Isn't the ich parasite mostly on the surface of the fish's body? Or are there parasites in the organs and stuff that we don't see?

I would think that the parasite is destroyed by the predator's stomach acids, if ich isn't truly an endoparasite :huh: I mean, it's not like a tapeworm or nematode that has special adaptations to protect them from the digestive processes of their host. Unless my understanding of the nature of ich is wrong, which it might very well be :D

I didn't answer the poll because I'm not sure where I stand. But if anything, I'd choose the last category. Perhaps I still will :)

[icecubez189]

hehe, i just wanted you to update your knowledge

[liv2padl]

i've never read a single scientific paper in which Ichthyophthirus multifiliis was suggested to be an internal parasite during any phase of its life cycle. Microsporidia and Coccidiais are two intracellular parasites i'm aware of that do require require host tissue for reproduction. Fish acquire the parasite by ingesting infective spores from infected fish or food.

[ChileRelleno]

hehe, i just wanted you to update your knowledgeWhy thank you for that bit of.......
Do you have a actual opinion/reason for your opinion?

[Hound]

My thought would be that its an external only parasite. That being said I don't have proof of this, but it just seems right.