>In addition to the recent mycobacteriosis messages I included some messages
>that were on the catfish mailinglist this weekend. A (possible) cure is
>mentioned and I thought you might be interested to read this. Ofcourse I
>would be interested to hear any comments.
During my research into this subject I came across a few "so called" treatments.
Kanamycine : 2-5 gm/100 L for 4-5 days. Afterwards make a 35-50%
waterchange. Also mixed in food: 200-300 mg per 100 gm food.
Rifampicine/ Rifamycline/ Rifampin: 0.25-0.5 gm/100 gm food, over 14 days.
However, the "general consensus" is that these drugs do not work on piscine
mycobacteriosis. Also it is very difficult to known if it works or not
because you have to have the fish diagnosed with TB in the first place,
which means that the fish has to be destroyed (chopped up). I guess there is
some 'guide' that where a certain percentage of fish have been diagnosed
with TB within a population that it can be "assumed" that the majority of
the population is positive. You would then treat the population and
afterwards dissect them all to see if they are free of the disease.
There is some research at one of the universities in Australia on a blood
test to confirm the presence of TB in fish, but it is only in the early
stages. Maybe someone else has heard more on this???
As for determining if a fish has TB or not the pathologist should confirm
the disease by culturing the bacteria and that can sometimes take weeks.
I guess in this drug induced society we live in today it is hard to come to
terms that not all things can be solved with drugs. Its a bit hard telling
my teenage grandson not to get involved in the drug scene when I sit in
front of him popping a variety of pills prescribed by my friendly doctor and
then wash them down with a glass of Bundy and coke, and then light up
another cancer tube. Perhaps if I improved my environment with clean water
and air, eat the right type of foods, and did a little exercise
occasionally, I wouldn't need all those pills :-)
Adrian.
Adrian R. Tappin
Brisbane, Australia.
"Home of the Rainbowfish"
http://www.ecn.net.au/~atappin/home.htm