Hello. My name is Adrian Lawler. First I would like to thank STARFISH for giving me help on CHAT techniques and for putting up with my scheduling problems.

INTRODUCTION

I've run the Aquarium at the J L. Scott Marine Education Center & Aquarium in Biloxi, MS since we opened in l984. My professional experience includes fish parasitology, toxicology/aquatic organism culture, aquarium management. My private experience includes many types of commercial fishing/ shrimping, tilapia culture/fish hatchery, seafood store, pet store/tropical fish sales. I hold a patent on a fish attractant.

My scientific publications have been on parasitic dinoflagellates, monogenetic trematodes, lymphocystis, leeches, bot fly larvae, diamondback terrapins, toxicology, mysid culture, abnormal crabs, parasitic barnacles, aquatic diseases transmitted to humans, and misc other subjects. I own a small farm where I raise various animals and have 31 ponds of various sizes that serve as back-up/culture ponds for the Aquarium. At the Aquarium I run an advisory service for aquaculture, pet stores, various agencies, and the general public.

My main email address is alawler@hotmail.com….our main Institute home page can be found at http://www.ims.usm.edu/ …..

I would like to touch on four items here: The JL Scott Aquarium; AMYLOODINIUM OCELLATUM; dinoflagellate blooms in tanks; and aquatic diseases transmitted to humans. You are welcome to direct questions also to me at the email address above.

Information on the various organisms listed below in CAPITAL letters can be gotten from the internet via hotbot search (http://www.hotbot.com), using the "exact phrase" search option.

JL SCOTT MEC & AQUARIUM

The J. L. Scott MEC & Aquarium was opened in l984. It was designed to survive long periods of no electrical power due to hurricanes. Our emergency generator is powered by natural gas via buried lines--- the generator runs air blowers, the blowers run undergravel filters. Our largest tank, 42,000 gallons, is an undergravel filter tank.

We have support diatomaceous earth and rapid sand filters on various tanks in addition to undergravel filters. There are only 2 tanks with wet/dry trickle filters. The Aquarium staff is 3 men-----due to demands on our time we must do aquarium management the simplest and easiest way possible. I am a working supervisor with hands-on daily tank running. We have 62 display tanks and over 100 back-up/treatment/hospital tanks.

AMYLOODINIUM OCELLATUM

One of the main scourges of marine fish keeping for many years has been the parasitic dinoflagellate AMYLOODINIUM OCELLATUM, which can infect and kill many species of saltwater fish and some "freshwater" fish held in salt water. Like most external fish parasites, this dinoflagellate causes little harm unless the hosts are confined in tanks/pens where reproduction/reinfection can occur in the confined water volume. Then this species can cause major problems and death due to: (1) mechanical blockage of gill respiratory function, (2) ingestion/destruction of gill/skin tissue resulting in decreased gill function (suffocation)/opening external surfaces up to secondary infections by various microbes.

This species is found world-wide in tropical/temperate waters thus those of you having salt water fish have, or will, encounter this parasite.

There are 3 stages in its life-cycle: the infective dinospore, which is free-swimming; the attached trophont, which is found on external surfaces in contact with environmental water; and the encysted/ dividing tomont. All stages possess a cellulose cell wall that make them difficult to treat.

An infected fish will exhibit abnormal behavior, which can include gasping, gasping at the water surface, irregular opercular beat, scratching on tank objects, constant swimming at the surface and trying to jump out, not eating, "coughing," not closing mouth, being sluggish, making spastic movements, etc.

Also, tiny white/opaque spots (trophonts) can be observed on the skin/fins.

Confirmation of the parasite can be made in several ways, some of which are: (1) putting fish to sleep with MS-222 (tricaine methanesulfonate) and examining external surfaces, fins, gills of the fish for trophonts in a dish of tank water under a stereomicroscope, (2) putting the live fish into a circular container and stroking it with a paint brush to cause the trophonts to dislodge, then removing the fish,stirring water in circular swirl, allowing water to settle, and then sampling the center of the container with an eye dropper/large-bore syringe, and verification under a microscope. Dead fish should be examined shortly after death as the trophonts fall off; skin scrapings/gill arches can be examined in a small dish of tank water for verification of trophonts/tomonts.

Some of the standard treatments have been freshwater dips or prolonged baths with copper solutions. However, both techniques are lacking because some dislodged trophonts can be swallowed, passed, divide, and become infective again. Dislodged parasites can also become caught in gill mucus, and transported to another tank, where they divide and become infective.

I use Marex, chloroquine phosphate + pyrimethamine (=daraprim), from Aquatronics to dislodge/kill the trophonts on fish prior to display. Treatment is done in all-glass tanks with sponge filters. My treatment technique allows me to put healthy fish on display in 1 day…..rather than after a long treatment with copper or quarantine. There have been very few failures using this technique since l984.

One can avoid problems with this parasite by using the treatment of your choice (freshwater, copper, various chemicals) as a treatment to dislodge trophonts prior to putting fish on display, and THEN keeping a diatomaceous earth filter on the tank to suck out infective dinospores coming from trophonts/tomonts swallowed and passed. DE filters will also help fish wounds heal faster, decrease other types of free-swimming infective stages of other parasites, and decrease water-borne bacteria, etc.

One can also rid a fish of trophonts by playing "musical tanks" with them. Use 2 or more tanks. Move the fish every day to a tank with non-infected water. Sterilize/discard water in previous tank. As it usually takes 2-3 days for trophonts to produce infective dinospores, daily moving of the fish prevents reinfection….and over several moves the trophonts on the fish fall off to divide and are discarded so the parasite burden decreases to zero.

DINOFLAGELLATE BLOOMS (Harmful Algal Blooms = HABs)

Free-living dinoflagellates can also cause problems in fish tanks. They can "bloom" in fish tanks and cause similar problems as RED TIDE and "death bloom" (PFIESTERIA PISCICIDA). These types of tank blooms are usually the result of nutrient build-up, which feeds the bloom. Avoid blooms in tanks by not over-feeding, removal of dead/dying plants, doing regular filter/tank cleaning, using a protein skimmer,etc.

(There are about 4000 known species of microscopic algae (phytoplankton) in the world's oceans. Of these, only about 300 have periodic explosions of growth (blooms). Out of these 300 HABs only about 40 produce potent toxins: e.g., PFIESTERIA PISCICIDA, "red tides" that kill manatees, HABs that get concentrated in shellfish and endanger humans consuming the shellfish, etc. If you live in a populated coastal area, you will probably see HABs . Increase in nutrients in coastal waters from agriculture, sewage, mining operations, other human activities can make the "soup" in which HABs thrive. Other ocean changes as climate change, changes in upwelling patterns, increases in water temperatures, current changes, etc. may stimulate HABs or increase their ranges. HABs will be an increasing problem as human population also "blooms.")

Confirm the presence of dinoflagellates in your tank by taking a water sample and examining it under a microscope: dinoflagellates have 2 flagella and swim in a spiral manner. If the fish are acting abnormally, and dinoflagellates are the cause, there will be large numbers of them in the water sample.

If one has a dinoflagellate bloom in a tank (I've seen blooms in 20-gallon tanks), fish will gasp, scratch, act abnormally, etc----there are 2 main ways to prevent the death of the fish due to the dinoflagellate toxins released: (1) massive water changes to decrease dinoflagellates/toxins in the water, then ascertain source of nutrients and decrease; (2) use a DE filter to suck dinoflagellates out of the tank water AND charcoal filtration to remove the toxins released by the dinoflagellates. Discard the charcoal after use.

DISEASES TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS

Finally, in this short presentation, I would like to briefly discuss fish tank diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Some can be difficult to cure….some can be quickly FATAL.

Fish TB (MYCOBACTERIUM MARINUM), also called fish tuberculosis, fish tank granuloma, swimming pool granuloma. …Related to human TB and leprosy. Bacteria are very resistant to treatment. Usually occurs on extremities (hands, feet). Entrance through wounds. Incubation ranges from 2 days to 2 years; usually takes about 2 weeks for granuloma to appear at site of infection. Infected area may be pink to purple in color, may discharge pus, and may be painful to touch. Treated with human TB drugs (local doctors have used minocycline, rifampin, ethambutol, and biaxin); can take a long time to cure (year or more). People have gotten fish TB from fish spine punctures, cleaning fish/shrimp/crabs, getting scratched on fish tanks, from rose bushes and injuring bare feet in parking lots (infected water transferred via air during storms), mouth-siphoning fish tanks, dolphin bites, diving around reefs, splinters from fish net handles, etc. Usually not fatal. Can get into joints and mimic arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Most frequent type of aquatic infection seen in my area.

VIBRIO infections. Several species can infect humans: V. ALGINOLYTICUS (wound infections), V.DAMSELA (wound/systemic infections), V. PARAHAEMOLYTICUS (gastroenteritis/wound infections),V.VULNIFICUS (wound/gastroenteritis/systemic infections). Systemic infections with vulnificus or damsela can be rapidly FATAL, or lead to limb amputation.. Systemic infections gotten through wounds. Incubation of vulnificus is 1-5 days; median time is 28 hours. Symptoms include high fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, seizures, fluid- filled skin lesions, etc. Gastrointestinal infections via ingestion of vulnificus (eating raw oysters, etc) and other species of Vibrio can cause rapid dehydration, and can lead to systemic infections if bacteria enter blood. Vulnificus can multiply so rapidly that blood vessels and organs get clogged…sometimes leading to amputation or death. Antibiotics utilized have been tetracycline, ampicillin, penicillin, gentamycin, etc. (Also see Dr. Bingman's paper of 4/6/97 at REEFS LIBRARY).

ERYSIPELOTHRIX RHUSIOPATHIAE, also known as erythema migrans, fish-handler's disease, fish poisoning, fish hand, sealer's finger, whale finger, blubber finger, etc..…Disease primarily occupational …..people handling animals or their wastes can get, e.g.: butchers, meat-processing workers, animal caretakers, farmers, fishermen, veterinarians, cooks/housewives, sewer workers, etc. Can persist in frozen meats. Incubation 1-7 days. Fever, malaise, pain in muscles & joints, severe headaches. Infections can go internal to C nervous system/heart. Most commonly seen on hands----can lead to acute arthritis of finger joints. ..Bacterial infection through break in skin. Carried by many animals, including dolphins, shellfish, and fish. Also known as "diamond skin disease," where diamond-shaped welts occur on the skin due to infection. Effects usually benign, but can be fatal. Systemic treatment is with antibiotics.

SALMONELLA….over 1600 serotypes identified. Infection by ingestion. Carried by many types of animals. Mild to severe gastroenteritis. Can by fatal thru rapid dehydration, septicemia, focal infections. Incubation is 7-72 hours. .

MAD FISH DISEASE…..caused by STREPTOCOCCUS INIAE. Recently reported from handling tilapia. Infection via puncture wounds. Can cause fever, shaking, meningitis, arthritis, and skin/blood infections.

To protect yourself----do not handle organisms/water/tanks if you have skin breaks; do not dive if you have skin breaks; do not mouth-siphon tank water, do not ingest raw seafood, etc. Wash hands,etc. well after working on tanks, with seafood, and after diving. If punctured, or injured under water, allow the wound to bleed freely for a while to expel injected bacteria, then sterilize and protect wound.

Those people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for getting the previous infections. So people with AIDS, diabetes, liver dysfunction, kidney problems, or undergoing cancer treatment, etc. should be especially careful.

(SEE: Hubbert et al. Diseases Transmitted from Animals to Man. Charles C. Thomas, Publisher. ISBN 0-398-03056-1)

Toxins produced by RED TIDE organisms and PFIESTERIA PISCICIDA can affect humans in various ways. PFIESTERIA exposure can lead to skin sores, memory loss, narcosis ("drugged" effect), reddening of eyes, severe headaches, blurred vision, nausea/vomiting, difficulty in breathing, kidney/liver dysfunction, severe cognitive impairment (can't remember name, address, etc), etc. Relapses have happened 6 years after initial exposure. PFIESTERIA is now classed as a BIOHAZARD III, and can be researched only in specially-equipped labs.

Thank you for your time. I'll try to answer questions…plus you can email me at alawler@hotmail.com . Thanks are due to STARFISH for help on this.

Dr. Adrian Lawler, Aquarium Supervisor, JL Scott Marine Education Center & Aquarium, 115 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530 (alawler@hotmail.com) http://www.foolscap.com/jlscott/ http://www.ims.usm.edu/ 1-228-374-5550; fax=1-228-374-5559

AND

Overseas Visiting Scientist, Environmental Resources Research Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Q: How do the nitrate levels compare between the tanks with UG filtes and the tanks with W/D filters?

Higher in UG filter tanks AL

Q: What do the trophonts look like under a microscope and what power magnification is recommended?

Pear to ovoid, up to 150 microns + in diameter, red stigma (eyespot) near place of attachment . Can see well enough at 100X. AL

Q: how do anti bacterial teatments knock filter bacteri ie gram + vsgram - treatments

I never use antibacterial treatments in display tanks as there can be a bad effect on filter bacteria leading to an ammonia peak and futher problems to the tank. Use hospital tanks for treatment. AL

Q: should plastic glove be worn as protection when handling fish?

Most doctors would say yes. Recent fisherman died in one day after being infected w/ V. damsela via bluefish sspine. Others dies just from barnacle scrapes. AL

Q: How does a DE filter "help fish wounds heal faster" ?

Do not know mechanism. Would suspect that fish gets some relief by having bacterial numbers reduced in the water of the tank by DE filtration. AL

Q: Once an a group of aquariums on a common system get infected how can one effectivly remove the parasite?

If you are talking about Amyloodinium...That would be hard to do. Dividing tomonts will be in substrate of each tank to reinfect. Can make the system tolerable for the fish by keeping a DE filer on it to keep dinospores in check. AL

Q: will a diatom sleeve in a canister filter be sufficient to remove micro-organisms?

If your water was passing through the sleeve and not taking any short-cuts around it at seals. AL

Q: would you consider a UV steralizer a good deterant to fish diseases?

Not really. UV light only penetrates short distance into SW. Plus only can sterilize water passing thru it....sediments stirred up can release bacteria that could infect prior to going thru UV sterilizer. Also takes Longer contact time to Zap some of the parasites. This is a problem we have on our Touch tanks. We use UV to protect public. But kids stirring up tank can release stuff (bacteria) out of substrate.AL

Q: What are the source(s) of nutrients (and what are the nutrients) for dinoflagellates?

In nature: sources come from man's release of stuff into rivers, etc. Fertilizers, Sewage, etc. Ocean processes as upwelling can bring up nutrients from bottom. Nutrients will vary per species. Nitrates, phosphates, iron, etc. AL

Q: does DE filter remove trace elements or other good water properties?

Until trophonts reach a certain size & thus become visible, it is possible that a fish can have a massive infection of tiny trophonts and not be visible to you? Look at the fish, His actions will tell you if he is having a problem. Amyloodinium only transmitted to fish ,....as far as we know. AL

Q: have you had any experience treating corals?

Very little. We do not have corals in our Aquarium. AL

Q: If a human contracts Fish TB - can he/she continue to work in/around an aquarium without infecting the aquarium inhabitants?

If the fish TB is internal and not leaking into the tank you should not transfer Fish TB back to the tank.AL

Q: do they leave DE filtration running all the time at the aquarium?

We have large swimming pool filters that run constantly on several tanks AL

Q: Is Marex effective in the treatment of Cryptocaryon (Ich)?

Some. But not too effective in my experience as Crypto imbeds (covered by host reaction tissue) and is hard to treat. Al

Q: Marex effectiveness - One day of treatment is sufficient?

For Amyloodinium, I treat for l3-l8 hrs, then display if fish is otherwise healthy. Longer exposure to Marex (Daraprim) can cause liver damage....fish will also darken in color. Shorter exposure ( LT l3 hrs ) will not get all Amyloodium off. AL

Thanks for all the info Adrian!