ZOONOTIC INFECTION WARNING:

Zoonosis refers to a disease which can be transferred from human to animal.

While is is mainly seen in animals such as (but not limited to) reptiles and amphibians with salmonella, it is possible for mammals and even fish to transfer zoonotic illnesses.

Mycobacterium, Erysipelothrix, Campylobacter, Aeromonas, Vibrio, Edwardsiella, Escherichia, Salmonella, Klebsiella and Streptococcus iniae are noted to be ZOONOTIC.

These may cause serious reactions in humans, even if the fish does not appear to be ill. If you suspect to have contracted an illness from your fish, seek medical attention.

Methods of Transmission:

• direct contact
• indirect contact with insect vectors and contaminated objects
• oral ingestion
• inhalation of aerosolized material

SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONS:

Since fish are capable of carrying zoonotic infections, it’s important to properly sterilize all equipment after use in an aquarium with potentially zoonotic infections. Wear protective gloves and do not directly handle the fish or equipment.

Precautions to Avoid Transmission:

• Do not eat, drink, apply makeup or use tobacco products while handling fish or their equipment
• Wear eye and respiratory protection when appropriate.
• Wear gloves and/or protective sleeves when handling aquarium water, animals, and waste.
• wash hands after contact.
• Wear dedicated protective clothing such as a waterproof coat or apron when handling animals.
• Cover abraded skin, cuts, scrapes or sores and do not allow wound contact with fish, fish-contaminated materials or aquarium water.
• Anyone with infected wounds indicated by swelling, redness, pain and draining fluids with or without a fever should seek medical treatment.
• . Use cleaning techniques that do not aerosolize dirty water or other materials.

Disinfection of Equipment and Aquarium:

• Bleach aquariums and equipment. Be sure to remove and dispose of (properly contained) all organic material, as this may contain infectious organisms.
• Disinfect equipment with specific cleaners for infection (i.e. for mycobacteriosis, use a mycobacteriocide such as lysol)
• 2 ounces of 6% bleach in 1 gallon of tap water may be efficient against susceptible infections but should not be a primary disinfectant or ratio used for this type of case

Some zoonotic organisms (such as mycobacterium) contain a waxy coating in the cell wall, giving them protection from many disinfectants, including bleach.

Be sure to THOROUGHLY rinse all products from equipment after sterilization, as these can KILL fish if added to the system. If using Lysol, be sure to move all other animals out of the room and cover all aquariums (even if they have a hood/canopy) with a towel or blanket.

Effective Disinfectants Against Zoonotic Infections:

Proper disinfection of aquariums and supplies is essential to prevent the spread of the illness, including to yourself and others. The following is important information regarding common cleaning agents and methods that can be incorporated against zoonotic infections.

These methods are mainly for Mycobacteriosis and Tuberculosis, however, due to the state of mycobacteria and their outer protective wall, these methods of disinfection are also highly effective against most other zoonotic infections.

Most Effective Against Mycobacteria and Tuberculosis:

Specifically against M. marinum, M. fortuitum, M. Triplex, and M. chelonea:

• Lysol® (1% benzyl-4- chlorophenol-2-phenylphenol)
• sodium chlorite
• 70% isopropyl alcohol can destroy Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 5 minutes
• ethyl alcohol at 50 or 70 percent concentrations, but not 30 percent (which requires at least 10 minutes of contact time)
• Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), even at concentrations as high as 50,000 mg/L, is only moderately effective in reducing the number of infectious agents in the environment.
• Roccal® and Virkon®-S are ineffective against mycobacterium

Note: Isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol are both most effective against mycobacterium in concentrations between 60-85%, however, 60-90% is the margin for effectiveness.

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The following information is taken direct from the summary for "Efficacy of Common Disinfectants against Mycobacterium marinum" by The Journal of Aquatic Animal Health:

“...ethyl alcohol (50% and 70%), benzyl-4-chlorophenol/phenylphenol (1%), and sodium chlorite (mixed as 1:5:1 or 1:18:1 [base : water : activator]) were the most effective disinfectants evaluated; each reduced or eliminated the number of detectable M. marinum within 1 min of contact time. Sodium hypochlorite (50,000 mg/L) was moderately effective but required a minimum contact time of 10 min to reduce bacterial counts. Ethyl alcohol (30%), N-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (1:256; two formulations), and potassium peroxymonosulfate– sodium chloride (1%) did not substantially reduce bacterial counts even after 60 min of contact time.”

Based on this, the following are effective disinfectants against M. Marinum (primary cause of Fish TB) within 1 minute:

• 50% and 70% ethyl alcohol
• benzyl-4-chlorophenol/phenylphenol (1%)
• Sodium chlorine (1:5:1 or 1:18:1 - base:water:activator)

Due to their effectiveness against this Mycobacterium, it can be assumed that these are also just as effective against the other forms of Mycobacterium.

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For More Information About Zoonotic Infections in Animals, Visit:

• https://iacuc.wsu.edu/zoonoses-associated-with-fish/
• http://www.ucdenver.edu/research/Research%20Administration%20Documents/Fish.pdf
• https://masna.org/masna-education/zoonotic-diseases/
• http://web.oie.int/boutique/extrait/19haenen497507.pdf
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1198743X15003250

Images of Aquatic Zoonotic Infections in Humans:

The remainder of the page below contains images of zoonotic infections of fish which have been passed to humans, which may be used as reference if you suspect to have contracted a zoonotic disease. The following images may be considered graphic.