Overviews of the Treatment and Control of Common Fish Diseases

Similar to other animals, fish can also suffer from different diseases. All fish carry pathogens and parasites. Disease is a prime agent affecting fish mortality, especially when fish are young. Pathogens which can cause fish diseases comprise: viral infections, bacterial infections, fungal infections, protozoan infections, water mould infection, etc. Fish are also exposed from different environmental pollutants, including drugs and chemicals. The most common fish diseases, particularly in freshwater aquaria, include columnaris, gill disease, ick (ich), dropsy, tail and fin-rot, fungal infections, white spot disease, pop-eye, cloudy eye, swim bladder disease, lice and nematode worms infestation, water quality induced diseases, constipation, anorexia, chilodonella, ergasilus, tuberculosis, glugea, henneguya, hexamita, hole-in-the-head disease, injuries, leeches in aquaria, lymphocystis, marine velvet, and neon-tetra disease, etc. Antibiotics are frequently used to control fish diseases caused by bacteria, but there is an increasing risk of developing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. The non-specific immune functions such as bacteriolytic activity and leukocyte function of fish have been improved by some herbs. Plants have been used as traditional medicine since time immemorial to control bacterial, viral, fungal and other diseases.