Just read the post on fish TB and how rare and difficult it is to catch. I know it's a closed thread and all, but I felt I had to chime in. I'm sorry I missed the original discussion.
Had it. I got a wild caught pleco installed in my tank, and contracted a dermal infection.
Treatment was'nt nice (what visit to the doctor is?) but it also was'nt horrible horrible. Don't let worries like this keep you from keeping fish. Be aware, be alert, practice good hygine and if it happens to you, tell your doctor proudly "My guppies gave it to me!"
More info dredged from the web:::
Of the bacterial pathogens discussed here, M. marinum is by far the most problematic for aquarists. It can be found with unsettling frequency in both fresh and saltwater aquariums and poorly chlorinated swimming pools. Mycobacterial infections appear as gnarled, granular lesions on the skin (see Figure 2). These granulomas appear two to six weeks after an abrasion or other injury sustained in the water (i.e. from handling live rock) or an existing wound is exposed to water. It is typical for M. marinum infections to occur on fingers, hands, elbows, and knees because these areas are prone to cuts and abrasions. While these infections really are rare, even among those whole frequently work in their aquariums, there is at least one case of a child exhibiting multiple lesions spread over the entire body after being bathed in a tub that had recently been used to clean an aquarium.
Treatment is with antibiotics, clarithromycin, doxycycline, and rifampin/ethambutol. The course of the treatment is long, requiring at least three months. Deep infections may require some of the lesion to be removed surgically. Hot water or heat lamps may speed recovery, since the organism does not grow well at high temperatures. It should be noted that many general practitioners, especially those in inland regions, are not accustomed to seeing M. marinum infections and may fail to diagnose it properly.
Dr. Nicholas R. Silvaggi
Courtesy of http://freshwater-aquarium-fish.com/..._pathogens.htm
Had it. I got a wild caught pleco installed in my tank, and contracted a dermal infection.
Treatment was'nt nice (what visit to the doctor is?) but it also was'nt horrible horrible. Don't let worries like this keep you from keeping fish. Be aware, be alert, practice good hygine and if it happens to you, tell your doctor proudly "My guppies gave it to me!"
More info dredged from the web:::
Of the bacterial pathogens discussed here, M. marinum is by far the most problematic for aquarists. It can be found with unsettling frequency in both fresh and saltwater aquariums and poorly chlorinated swimming pools. Mycobacterial infections appear as gnarled, granular lesions on the skin (see Figure 2). These granulomas appear two to six weeks after an abrasion or other injury sustained in the water (i.e. from handling live rock) or an existing wound is exposed to water. It is typical for M. marinum infections to occur on fingers, hands, elbows, and knees because these areas are prone to cuts and abrasions. While these infections really are rare, even among those whole frequently work in their aquariums, there is at least one case of a child exhibiting multiple lesions spread over the entire body after being bathed in a tub that had recently been used to clean an aquarium.
Treatment is with antibiotics, clarithromycin, doxycycline, and rifampin/ethambutol. The course of the treatment is long, requiring at least three months. Deep infections may require some of the lesion to be removed surgically. Hot water or heat lamps may speed recovery, since the organism does not grow well at high temperatures. It should be noted that many general practitioners, especially those in inland regions, are not accustomed to seeing M. marinum infections and may fail to diagnose it properly.
Dr. Nicholas R. Silvaggi
Courtesy of http://freshwater-aquarium-fish.com/..._pathogens.htm
