Velvet (fish disease)

Velvet disease

Velvet disease, also called gold dust disease, is a fish disease caused by dinoflagellate parasites of the genus Piscinoodinium, which gives the fish a dusty, slimy look. The disease occurs most commonly in tropical and (to a lesser extent) marine aquaria.^[1]

Life cycle

The single-celled parasite's life cycle can be divided into three major phases. First, as a tomont, the parasite rests at the water's floor and divides into as many as 256 tomites. Second, these juvenile, motile tomites swim about in search of a fish host, meanwhile using photosynthesis to grow, and to fuel their search. Finally, the adolescent tomite finds and enters the slime coat of a host fish, dissolving and consuming the host's cells, and needing only three days to reach full maturity before detaching to become a tomont once more.^[2]

Pathology

Velvet (in an aquarium environment) is usually spread by contaminated tanks, fish, and tools (such as nets or testing supplies). There are also rare reports of frozen live foods (such as bloodworms) containing dormant forms of the species. Frequently, however, the parasite is endemic to a fish, and only causes a noticeable "outbreak" after the fish's immune system is compromised for some other reason. The disease is highly contagious and can prove fatal to fish.

Symptoms

Initially, infected fish are known to "flash", or sporadically dart from one end of an aquarium to another, scratching against objects in order to relieve their discomfort. They will also "clamp" their fins very close to their body, and exhibit lethargy. If untreated, a 'dusting' of particles (which are in fact the parasites) will be seen all over the infected fish, ranging in color from brown to gold to green. In the most advanced stages, fish will have difficulty respirating, will often refuse food, and will eventually die of hypoxia due to necrosis of their gill tissue.^[3]

Treatment

Sodium chloride is believed to mitigate the reproduction of Velvet, however this treatment is not itself sufficient for the complete eradication of an outbreak. Additional, common medications added directly to the fish's environment include copper sulfate, methylene blue, formalin, malachite green and acriflavin, all of which can be found in common fish medications designed specifically to combat this disease. Additionally, because Velvet parasites derive a portion of their energy from photosynthesis, leaving a tank in total darkness for seven days provides a helpful supplement to chemical curatives. Finally, some enthusiasts recommend raising the water temperature of an infected fish's environment, in order to quicken the life cycle (and subsequent death) of Velvet parasites; however this tactic is not practical for all fish, and may induce immunocompromising stress.^[4]

See also

• Pfiesteria piscicida

References

1. "Protozoa Infecting Gills and Skin". The Merck Veterinary Manual. 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
2. "Phylum Dinoflagellata". Flynn's Parasites of Laboratory Animals. 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
3. "Shedding Light on Velvet Disease". Federation of British Aquatic Societies. 2005. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
4. "Freshwater Velvet - Piscinoodinium pillulare & Costia". Aquarium and Pond Answers. 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-01.