Transferable Disease To Humans

[Valmyre]

Hiya all, i was just reading an article : http/www.fishyfarmacy.com/Q&A/eye_disorders.html
and read that fish can be infected with Tuberculosis and that it is transferable to humans.. hmm . how common is this? puts a whole new prospective on fish keeping..lol...

 

[Squid]

bugger... i think ive got white spot... you think the fish tonic will work for me.. ? Do i drink it?

Squid

 

[The-Wolf]

It is extreamly hard for a human to contract piscine TB.

Human Infections of Mycobacterium marinum

In humans, the two most common manifestations of this infection are a single large granuloma or an ascending lymphangitic granuloma (a series of smaller nodules usually starting on the dominant hand and progressing in a line up the arm). Less commonly seen is an infection in the joints, which will cause arthritis-type symptoms. This latter type of deep infection is associated with a puncture, like that from the spiny ray of a catfish or from a deep, open wound that becomes infected. Lastly, there is a rare case of a disseminating disease seen in immuno-compromised individuals that can be fatal. People diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or any other person with a known immune system problem should be particularly careful. If you fall into any one of these categories, you may want to consider hiring a service company to take care of your tank. Also note that symptoms can wait to present themselves from two weeks to four months after initial exposure, due to the slow growth rate of this bacterium. Keep a close eye on any open cuts for that same time frame to ensure they heal properly and are not subject to infection.

Taken from
http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/...ature/index.php
Warning graphic pictures of infection in the link

 

[Valmyre]

It is extreamly hard for a human to contract piscine TB.

Human Infections of Mycobacterium marinum

In humans, the two most common manifestations of this infection are a single large granuloma or an ascending lymphangitic granuloma (a series of smaller nodules usually starting on the dominant hand and progressing in a line up the arm). Less commonly seen is an infection in the joints, which will cause arthritis-type symptoms. This latter type of deep infection is associated with a puncture, like that from the spiny ray of a catfish or from a deep, open wound that becomes infected. Lastly, there is a rare case of a disseminating disease seen in immuno-compromised individuals that can be fatal. People diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or any other person with a known immune system problem should be particularly careful. If you fall into any one of these categories, you may want to consider hiring a service company to take care of your tank. Also note that symptoms can wait to present themselves from two weeks to four months after initial exposure, due to the slow growth rate of this bacterium. Keep a close eye on any open cuts for that same time frame to ensure they heal properly and are not subject to infection.

Taken from
http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/...ature/index.php
Warning graphic pictures of infection in the link

Thanks for the info wolf, sounds a pretty rare occurance....

 

[Ethos]

Oh crap! I knew something was up, it didn't feel normal sitting in the corner all day.

 

[Lynden]

Mycobacterium marinum (piscine TB) can indeed be transferred to humans, although it will not be the same super-infectious lung disease we humans commonly know as TB. Fish with TB show symptoms as primarily skin defects, and fish-TB will generally not infect your lungs, just remain as a skin infection.

And you think freshwater animals are dangerous to our health? What about us reef keepers? We constantly get poisoned by corals or stung by anemones! Or lacerated by tangs and live rock, and speared by angels and fang gobies! Huh??!! Huh??!! just kidding. However marine tanks are a far larger danger than FW tanks. Just recently i got sick from mine.....

 

[Ethos]

So wait, does this mean handeling our sick fish can actually make us sick?

 

[Lynden]

You bet your balls it does.

 

[Briarmoor]

It is extreamly hard for a human to contract piscine TB.

Human Infections of Mycobacterium marinum

In humans, the two most common manifestations of this infection are a single large granuloma or an ascending lymphangitic granuloma (a series of smaller nodules usually starting on the dominant hand and progressing in a line up the arm).
Taken from
http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/...ature/index.php
Warning graphic pictures of infection in the link

Do some fish show the same symptoms of nodules if infected with TB? I noticed one of the phantoms had 2 nodules on her side right below her spine area. Otherwise she seems to be acting and eating normally. I am watching these and thought they might be tumors since she does not seem sick. What do you think?

With dogs, humans can get infected with a number of canine ailments. For instance, if a dog is infected with hookworms, and a human gets them on their hands (these are very tiny worms) the worms burrow under the skin and show up as little bumps under the skin. It is not the same infection the dog would get as the worms die when not in the right host species, just cause the human lots of itching. However, a sexually transmitted disease called brucellosis in dogs is transferrable to humans and luckily is rare. There is a test for the dogs before breeding to make sure both are clear of it. There are also ailments humans can get from cats, so no species is completely safe from cross over illness.

 

[Ethos]

It's kinda funny, this is one of the more serious times I've heard you can get infected by and animal..

 

[Synirr]

However, a sexually transmitted disease called brucellosis in dogs is transferrable to humans....

That would be one embarrassing trip to the doctor

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Its not realy a desease, but i have heard a couple of storys of people who have accidentally stabbed themselves on the bristles of sailfin or common plecs and got realy badly infected wounds.
Apparently fish flakes also often contain high levels of salmonella as well, so make sure you keep those hands clean...

Can the type of ringworm fish can get be passed onto people?

 

[Lynden]

However, a sexually transmitted disease called brucellosis in dogs is transferrable to humans....

That would be one embarrassing trip to the doctor

No kidding!