Fish Disease Transmitted to Humans

There numerous diseases transmitted from fishes to human beings. Hence it is mandatory to get to know about common fish diseases of your aquarium. This will help you to prevent the same among the human population.

Fish Tuberculosis

It is caused by Mycobacterium Marinum. It is also known as fish tank granuloma, or the swimming pool granuloma.

The mycobacterium Marinum is very strong that they resist the treatment pretty well. It mainly affects the extremities like hands and feet. The entry of the bacteria to human body is through wounds. The incubation period inside human body may range from 2 days to 2 years. Granuloma appears within 2 weeks at the site of infection. The infected area changes color and may be tender to touch. As it is an infection pus discharge from the infected area is common. The complete cure takes long time.

It is treated with human tuberculosis drugs like Minocycline, Rifampin, Ethambutol and Biaxin. People gets fish TB from the fish bone punctures, while cleaning fish, from fish tanks, fish bites, splinters from the fish net handle etc. The fish TB is not a fatal disease. This can affect joints causing joint pain similar to arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Vibrio infections

Many vibrio species causes diseases in humans. The common vibrios that causes wound infections are V. ALGINOLYTICUS, V.DAMSELA,
V. PARAHAEMOLYTICUS and V.VULNIFICUS. Vibrio parahaemolyticus also causes gastro intestinal diseases. Vulnificus and damsella infections are fatal. These infections spread rapidly and the later stages may require limb amputation. The incubation period for these bacteria is 1 to 5 days and the median time is 28 hours.

The patient experiences high fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhea, low BP and skin lesions with fluid inside.

The Gastro intestinal infections are caused by eating fishes that are not cooked properly. The patient presents symptoms like dehydration and is fatal if the bacteria enter blood. The vulnificus bacteria divided rapidly in the blood. Tetracycline, ampicillin, penicillin, gentamycin are the common antibiotics used in the treatment of this disease.

Fish handler's disease or erythema migrans

These are commonly found in people who handle animals and animal wastes. Incubation period of the bacteria is 1 to 7 day. The patient presents with fever, malaise, joint and muscle tenderness. The infection may spread to the central nervous system and heart. Antibiotic treatment for erythema migrans is very effective.

Infection from salmonella causes gastro intestinal diseases. It causes severe dehydration and becomes fatal due to septicemic infection.

Mad fish Disease

It is caused by Streptococcus Inlae. Infection is mainly through cuts and wounds. The patient gets fever, tremors, meningitis, arthritis, skin irritations and blood infections

How to protect yourself from fishborne diseases?

If you have skin wounds, do not handle organisms like fishes, fish tanks and water from the tanks as these can be the mode of entry of bacteria to human body. Mouth-siphoning of the water tanks must be avoided. All the sea and the fishes must be eaten properly cooked. Toxins from RedTides are fatal to humans. If you get a cut under the water, never try to cover the bleeding. Allow it to bleed so that the bacteria got inside get expelled through the blood. After the bleeding stops, sterilise the wound and protect it for healing.

People with poor immune system are at high risk for the above infections. People with systemic diseases like AIDS and patients with diabetics, impaired liver functions, or cancer should take precautions before handling their pet fishes.