Abstract
The authors have described the bacteriology 1 and the pathology 2 of an infectious dermatitis of the Pacific killifish, Fundulus parvipinnis, and other marine fishes which has seriously handicapped the experimental work 3 , 4 on these organisms. At certain periods during the last 3 or 4 years literally thousands of Fundulus have died of the disease in our laboratories and frequently important experiments have been terminated before results of value could be obtained. While the disease is known to occur in nature, probably the fishes are rendered more susceptible to infection by injuries sustained in the collecting nets and by subsequent handling. The elimination of those fishes which are visibly injured, the segregation of the infected, the disinfection of the tanks by chlorination, and the application of other ordinary precautions have been of little or no avail in controlling the epidemics. A hyperthermic treatment consisting of the gradual acclimatization of the fishes to water heated to 32°C. to 35°C. has been of prophylactic as well as of therapeutic value, but this procedure is slow and expensive. Therefore, it is desirable to find a more expedient method for the control of this and similar diseases.
Certain infectious diseases of fresh-water fishes 5 have been controlled by bathing the fish in solutions of selective germicides. With this idea in mind experiments were designed to ascertain the tolerance of healthy fishes to such substances. Preliminary work with the inorganic salts of heavy metals removed this class of compounds from further consideration because, while large concentrations are tolerated by the fishes, the metals are precipitated from solution by the constituents of sea water, thereby decreasing their efficacy as germicides.
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