I have a cold, will this hurt the fish?

[OrionGirl]

Bacteria can cross over, but few parasites can do so. Virii are another story--mutations aren't unheard of, but are certainly uncommon. Most transmissions revolve around open wounds in the water and ingestion. Mycobacterium and TB are the 2 most commonly discussed ones. Mycobacterium are everywhere, and seldom cause a problem, but the infections from them are very nasty and hard to cure. Infections of this sort are always the result of an open wound in the tank. While I have heard often that TB is transmissable, I have not heard of anyone who actually contracted it, so do not no the mechanism.

Overall, you're still safer playing in your aquarium than driving your car.

 

[aquariumfishguy]

You've never heard of anyone catching TB from the aquarium?

I just did a search on it and found countless URL's discussing the contracting of TB. Hmmmm....

 

[RTR]

I do know of a case, the individual was on chemo, so immuno-suppressed. There was a fresh deep scratch for entry. Nasty.

 

[OrionGirl]

Sorry--phrased that wrong. They are one in the same-- Fish TB is Mycobacterium marinum , the aquatic equivalent of Mycobacterium tuberculosis , which is only found in humans. I have not heard of anyone contracting Fish TB from other than a tank, so don't know if there is a secondary transmission. Basically--I don't know if humans can transmit the Fish TB to others, or not. Human TB is easily transmissable.