Postby HondaB20B » May 26th, 2013, 3:13 pm
Cause: Ciliate; Brooklynella hostilis
Description: Brooklynella hostilis is a ciliated protozoan that causes virulent disease in fish, especially clownfish and seahorses. Stress often precedes a Brooklynella outbreak. The parasite has a less complicated life cycle than other protozoan parasites, maturing and moving from one infected fish to another. It feeds on skin and blood, causing damage to skin, fins, and gills. Secondary bacterial infection is common.
Symptoms: Infection usually begins on the gills and goes unnoticed. It then spreads as a whitish film on skin and fins. Fish have labored breathing, stop feeding, and become very lethargic. Death follows quickly without treatment.
Treatment: Must be rapid, and best employed in a hospital tank.
Freshwater dips, with formalin and either methylene blue or malachite green.
Copper may not be effective alone, but seems to help when augmented with hyposalinity and freshwater dips.
Hyposalinity down to 1.010 - 1.013 mg/L.
Chloroquine phosphate.
Antibiotics may be needed to treat the secondary bacterial infections that result from the initial Brooklynella lesions.