[Killietalk] RE: RE: Microfex

[David_Koran at HQ02.USACE.ARMY.MIL]

Bob, Barry, et. al.,

I replied to the note with another intention, this, like the case of Culerpa
taxifolia (spelling??), may end up being a bad mark against the aquarium
hobby (good thing they can't pin the zebra mussels on us!).  A few years ago
I read some news clip about the occurance of whirling disease in the trout
in or near Yellowstone NP.  The source of disease was cited as aquariums
from hobbyists implying the disease was carried in tropical fish.

Not knowing how powerful the lobby for trout fishing is one has to
understand that any public reaction that seeks to find blame for a problem
and can be linked to another group with lesser lobbying clout may find
itself legislated into a position that will make its activity more difficult
or costly.  The lobby for the pet business will fight things that effect
their business, i.e., the commercial end but cultivation of such things as
Microfex are mom and pop businesses or even kitchen industries that have
little or no clout.  A couple of bad outbreaks of a disease like the
whirling disease and new restrictions might be put into effect that severely
impact what we do, say like further restrictions on what live material is
shipped through the mail or even special regulations as to what can be
flushed down the toilet into public sewage systems.

I know this stand sounds very far fetched but consider that many of us leave
standing water outside in order to encourage mosquito larvae in order to
provide live food for our fish.  As the occurances of West Nile virus spread
across the country and some local governments look to more aggressively
attack the problem, spraying may not become the only problem but you might
have neighbors "rat" on your containers and you might find yourself subject
to a fine or arrest.  Hey, if you can be prosecuted for instances where your
home or property detracts from "community standards", what's next?

Dave

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 16:50:44 EST
From: Rjga at aol_com
Subject: Re: [Killietalk] RE: Microfex
To: killietalk at aka_org

Barry - 

I think whirling disease primarily affects salmonids, but it can also occur 
in neural and cartilagenous tissue of other coldwater fishes, including
carp. I 
think it's a generic term for  infections by several species of Myxobolus, 
but also I think only in coldwater fishes. Some transmission has been caused
by 
Tubificids, but of course the tubificids would have to pick it up from an 
infected fish, perhaps at a contaminated trout hatchery that sells
blackworms. The 
occurrence of whirling disease is, as far as I know, rare in general and 
unknown in warmwater fishes.


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