Not about fish, but IMPORTANT to fish people.
I am writing to inquire if any NANFA person has been infected by this
particularly nasty bacterium as a result of our fish collecting and keeping
hobby.
Since 21 March, [rjs] sevenx weeks ago, I have been under treatment by
our family M.D., an infectious diseases specialist, and the staff of our
local
hospital, which fortunately is only a couple of miles from our home.
Background: Seven weeks ago, on Sunday 21 March, I was hit by an extreme
fever and hauled off to the hospital with a temperature of 104.70 F. The
initial evaluation indicated a virus attack of some sort, but the next day
the
results of blood tests confirmed it was a bacterial episode, and I was put
on
a heavy antibiotic regimen, primarily Cipro (Ciprofloxacin hydrocholoride).
Further blood tests while I was in the hospital identified the bacterium as
Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
See http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Bact330/lecturepseudomonas
Excerpt: "Its tolerance to a wide variety of physical conditions, including
temperature, contributes to its ecological success as an opportunistic
pathogen.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa does, however, show a predilection for growth in
moist environments, a reflection of its natural existence in soil and
water."
I am advised that P. aeruginosa is a ubiquitous critter found all around us
in
other than desert climates, difficult for species Homo sapiens to acquire,
and
very difficult to get rid of. After seven week of treatment, in an out of
the local
hospital, the antibiotics treatment ended only a few days ago, and I am
finally
showing good signs of recovery. Among other things, my weight is down
about 20 lbs. (around 10% of my body weight), and I remain quite weak.
The infectious diseases physician has suggested that I might have acquired
this nasty "bug" through my involvement with little fishes critters, and so
I am
writing with two purposes in mind:
1. To let you know that that collecting and keeping fishes might well
involve
exposure to this bacterium (and others, for that matter), and
2. To solicit any information you might have regarding your experiences, if
anyone has also been infected.
I have been feeling much better the past few days, and assume I
am...finally...on
the road to fully recovery. It's not been a whole lot of fun, frankly.
Looking forward to the convention-in-Charleston, God willing and the river
don't rise,
Bob Sinclair
Santa Barbara CA
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa-in-aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request-in-aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request-in-aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org