Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fish lice found on caudal and anal fins of goldfish
By Wafer, Lemnique N et al.·Published in Comparative medicine·2015·University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Fish Lice (Argulus japonicus) in Goldfish (Carassius auratus).
- Species:
- fish
Plain-English summary
Three goldfish were found to have fish lice (Argulus japonicus) on their fins, but they showed no signs of illness. The lice were manually removed, and no further cases were reported afterward. While there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for treating fish lice, some chemicals have been used successfully. It's important for fish owners to check new fish for lice and quarantine them to prevent spreading these parasites to other fish.
People also search for: goldfish fish lice treatment · how to remove fish lice from goldfish · symptoms of fish lice in goldfish
Abstract
Fish lice (Argulus spp; family Argulidae) are branchiuran crustaceans that parasitize both marine and freshwater fishes. Argulus spp can be a major threat to fish health, because heavy infestations can cause significant morbidity and mortality. In addition, fish lice are known to be the vehicle for other fish diseases. During rounds at our facility, Argulus japonicus was collected from the caudal and anal fins of 3 goldfish (Carassius auratus). These goldfish were asymptomatic, and no additional cases were noted after manual removal of the lice. As soon as any Argulus organisms are identified, management and treatment are recommended because infections can escalate rapidly. Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs for the control and treatment of this parasite, but several chemicals including organophosphates and diflubenzuron have been used with success. The screening and quarantine of incoming fish is the best way to avoid a facility-wide Argulus infestation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25926394/