1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

Parasites

Parásitos 

Poultry

Cría de aves de corral

Fishes

Peces

Fish Health Management and Welfare

Gestión y bienestar de la salud de los peces

Gastrointestinal parasites are one of the many unforeseen challenges in livestock production. Some animals have the ability of coping with these burdensome organisms, but some individuals in our herds or flocks will never develop the resistance to thrive in this harsh environment. Haemonchus contortus, also known as the barber pole worm, affects many species of [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_941" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-941" style="width: 438px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class=" wp-image-941" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hardeeco/files/2022/07/Sheep-and-goats.png" alt="" width="438" height="292" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-941" class="wp-caption-text">Barber pole worms (Haemonchus contortus) can be a serious problem in young sheep and goats. Picture credit: Jonael Bosques, UF/IFAS Extension.</figcaption></figure>
Gastrointestinal parasites are one of the many unforeseen challenges in livestock production. Some animals have the ability of coping with these burdensome organisms, but some individuals in our herds or flocks will never develop the resistance to thrive in this harsh environment.
Haemonchus contortus, also known as the barber pole worm, affects many species of ruminants including bovines, cervids, camelids, sheep, and goats. These worms primarily feed on blood by attaching their mouthparts to the linings of the stomach inside the host’s digestive tract.  These parasites can produce thousands of eggs that are excreted with animal feces and subsequently infect otherwise healthy animals, potentially reducing their efficiency to gain weight, thrive and often can cause death.
For this reason, monitoring the parasite load on our animals is extremely important, especially immunologically vulnerable times around the time young livestock lose the maternal immunity (4 months of age in sheep and goats), and during pregnancy for breeding females.
Fecal egg count is a procedure that can be used on the farm to assess the parasite load of our livestock and monitor the effectiveness of our deworming practices. This low-cost procedure can help us identify animals and make culling and treating decisions, as well as helping us select the breeding animals that are more suitable for our operation.
<figure id="attachment_945" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-945" style="width: 556px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-945 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="556" height="335" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hardeeco/files/2022/07/haemonchus.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-945" class="wp-caption-text">Female barber pole worm under magnification. Picture credit: Sul Ross State University.</figcaption></figure>
The results from the fecal flotation can help us design a health management program in conjunction with our veterinarian, and other parasite management strategies, instead of just relying on the use of anthelmintic drugs to manage this unwanted burden.
<h2> Materials needed:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Disposable gloves</li>
<li>Lubricant</li>
<li>Cups or bags to collect fecal pellets</li>
<li>Marker</li>
<li>Tongue depressors or popsicle sticks</li>
<li>Fecal solution</li>
<li>50 ml test tubes</li>
<li>McMaster slide</li>
<li>Disposable eye dropper</li>
<li>Strainer</li>
<li>Microscope</li>
<li>Clean water</li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_947" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-947" style="width: 628px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-947" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hardeeco/files/2022/07/intervet.jpg" alt="" width="628" height="488" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-947" class="wp-caption-text">Guide to Internal Parasites of Ruminants. Picture Source: Intervet.</figcaption></figure>
 
<h2>Fecal Egg Count procedure:</h2>
<ol>
<li>Catch the goat whose feces you want to check and collect fresh fecal pellets. Gently go inside with a disposable-gloved hand, grab several pellets, exit the body, and turn the glove inside out to hold the feces.</li>
<li>Put four or five fresh goat fecal pellets or the equivalent amount of loose feces (2 grams) into a cup. Mash the feces with a tongue depressor or popsicle stick.</li>
<li>Pour 28 ml (cc) fecal floatation solution into the cup, then mash/mix the solution as much as possible.</li>
<li>Use a spoon or other tool to crush and break up feces forming a slurry (2 minutes).</li>
<li>Lift the strainer out of small dish and discard the fecal residue.</li>
<li>Stir the solution in the container with a spoon using a back and forth motion. Then use an eyedropper to fill one chamber of the McMaster slide. Repeat the above step and fill the other chamber of the slide.</li>
<li>Allow slide to sit for 5 minutes.</li>
<li>Look at the slide under microscope.</li>
<li>Orient the slide to begin in one corner of the marked lanes. The slide has two squares each of which is marked off into 6 lanes. Begin in the corner of one square and start counting one lane, ensuring that both marked sides of the lane are visible. Move the slide over to the next lane and count. Repeat this procedure until all 6 lanes are counted.</li>
<li>Count all eggs in 6 lanes in one chamber or half of the slide then repeat on the other half.</li>
<li>Use a worm egg/coccidia oocyst chart for identification.</li>
</ol>
Calculations of EPG:
<ol start="12">
<li>Total the number of eggs from both squares.</li>
<li>Multiply that number by 50 to calculate eggs per gram of feces.</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<h2>Thresholds:</h2>
<ul>
<li>An FEC (Fecal Egg Count) below 250 isn&#8217;t usually an issue, so deworming may not be needed. If a FEC of more than 250 exists in your fecal sample, take appropriate corrective measures by medicating the animal properly.</li>
<li>Some general recommendations for deworming are to deworm dry does and bucks when 2,000 eggs per gram of feces are found. All other animals should be dewormed when having 1,000 eggs per gram of feces. After deworming, do not return animals to contaminated pastures**.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Further reading: </h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.luresext.edu/?q=content/procedure-counting-fecal-eggs">Procedure for Counting Fecal Eggs | Agricultural Research (luresext.edu)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sheepandgoat.com/online-famacha-certification">Online FAMACHA Certification | Maryland Small Ruminant Page (sheepandgoat.com)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/animals-urban/fighting-the-enemy-controlling-barber-pole-worms-in-sheep-and-goats/">Fighting the Enemy: Controlling Barber Pole Worms in Sheep and Goats &#8211; Alabama Cooperative Extension System (aces.edu)</a>
<figure id="attachment_935" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-935" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-935 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Sheep and lambs in a pasture. " width="2560" height="1706" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hardeeco/files/2022/07/016553-scaled.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-935" class="wp-caption-text">UF/IFAS Photo by Cristina Carriz</figcaption></figure></li>
</ul>

Barber pole worms (Haemonchus contortus) can be a serious problem in young sheep and goats. Picture credit: Jonael Bosques, UF/IFAS Extension.
Gastrointestinal parasites are one of the many unforeseen challenges in livestock production. Some animals have the ability of coping with these burdensome organisms, but some individuals in our herds or flocks will never develop the resistance to thrive in this harsh environment.
Haemonchus contortus, also known as the barber pole worm, affects many species of ruminants including bovines, cervids, camelids, sheep, and goats. These worms primarily feed on blood by attaching their mouthparts to the linings of the stomach inside the host’s digestive tract.  These parasites can produce thousands of eggs that are excreted with animal feces and subsequently infect otherwise healthy animals, potentially reducing their efficiency to gain weight, thrive and often can cause death.
For this reason, monitoring the parasite load on our animals is extremely important, especially immunologically vulnerable times around the time young livestock lose the maternal immunity (4 months of age in sheep and goats), and during pregnancy for breeding females.
Fecal egg count is a procedure that can be used on the farm to assess the parasite load of our livestock and monitor the effectiveness of our deworming practices. This low-cost procedure can help us identify animals and make culling and treating decisions, as well as helping us select the breeding animals that are more suitable for our operation.
Female barber pole worm under magnification. Picture credit: Sul Ross State University.
The results from the fecal flotation can help us design a health management program in conjunction with our veterinarian, and other parasite management strategies, instead of just relying on the use of anthelmintic drugs to manage this unwanted burden.
 Materials needed:
Disposable gloves
Lubricant
Cups or bags to collect fecal pellets
Marker
Tongue depressors or popsicle sticks
Fecal solution
50 ml test tubes
McMaster slide
Disposable eye dropper
Strainer
Microscope
Clean water
Guide to Internal Parasites of Ruminants. Picture Source: Intervet.
 
Fecal Egg Count procedure:
Catch the goat whose feces you want to check and collect fresh fecal pellets. Gently go inside with a disposable-gloved hand, grab several pellets, exit the body, and turn the glove inside out to hold the feces.
Put four or five fresh goat fecal pellets or the equivalent amount of loose feces (2 grams) into a cup. Mash the feces with a tongue depressor or popsicle stick.
Pour 28 ml (cc) fecal floatation solution into the cup, then mash/mix the solution as much as possible.
Use a spoon or other tool to crush and break up feces forming a slurry (2 minutes).
Lift the strainer out of small dish and discard the fecal residue.
Stir the solution in the container with a spoon using a back and forth motion. Then use an eyedropper to fill one chamber of the McMaster slide. Repeat the above step and fill the other chamber of the slide.
Allow slide to sit for 5 minutes.
Look at the slide under microscope.
Orient the slide to begin in one corner of the marked lanes. The slide has two squares each of which is marked off into 6 lanes. Begin in the corner of one square and start counting one lane, ensuring that both marked sides of the lane are visible. Move the slide over to the next lane and count. Repeat this procedure until all 6 lanes are counted.
Count all eggs in 6 lanes in one chamber or half of the slide then repeat on the other half.
Use a worm egg/coccidia oocyst chart for identification.
Calculations of EPG:
Total the number of eggs from both squares.
Multiply that number by 50 to calculate eggs per gram of feces.
 
Thresholds:
An FEC (Fecal Egg Count) below 250 isn’t usually an issue, so deworming may not be needed. If a FEC of more than 250 exists in your fecal sample, take appropriate corrective measures by medicating the animal properly.
Some general recommendations for deworming are to deworm dry does and bucks when 2,000 eggs per gram of feces are found. All other animals should be dewormed when having 1,000 eggs per gram of feces. After deworming, do not return animals to contaminated pastures**.
Further reading: 
Procedure for Counting Fecal Eggs | Agricultural Research (luresext.edu)
Online FAMACHA Certification | Maryland Small Ruminant Page (sheepandgoat.com)
Fighting the Enemy: Controlling Barber Pole Worms in Sheep and Goats – Alabama Cooperative Extension System (aces.edu)
UF/IFAS Photo by Cristina Carriz

Gastrointestinal parasites are one of the many unforeseen challenges in livestock production. Some animals have the ability of coping with these burdensome organisms, but some individuals in our herds or flocks will never develop the resistance to thrive in this harsh environment. Haemonchus contortus, also known as the barber pole worm, affects many species of […]

Monitoring gastrointestinal parasite loads in Florida sheep and goat operations

Out with the old, in with the new. New deworming methods that is. In the past horse owners would deworm their horses every four to eight weeks to treat for intestinal parasites, but that is an outdated and incorrect method for treating intestinal parasites. By rotating dewormers every four to eight weeks you are creating [&#8230;]

Out with the old, in with the new. New deworming methods that is. In the past horse owners would deworm their horses every four to eight weeks to treat for intestinal parasites, but that is an outdated and incorrect method for treating intestinal parasites. By rotating dewormers every four to eight weeks you are creating parasite resistance to dewormers, and if this method continues horse owners could be left without an effective parasite &#8211; control weapon. The goal of deworming is to limit parasite infections so animals remain healthy and illness does not develop. Worm larvae is killed by extreme weather so once the temperature gets above 90 degrees Fahrenheit it is too hot for the parasite to complete its lifecycle. Treatment in Florida should be done during:
<ul>
<li>Fall</li>
<li>Winter</li>
<li>Spring</li>
</ul>
Before deworming your horse a Modified McMaster Fecal Egg Count Test on your horses fecal should be done by your veterinarian to see if your horse is a low, medium, or high shedder of parasite eggs. The fecal egg count test is done to identify horses who persistently carry higher loads of parasite eggs due to their immunity. Ivermectin is an effective product for treating large and small strongyles in adult horses. After deworming 14 days later you should also do a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test to see if the deworming product used was at least 90% effective. If your horse is resistant to the ivermectin dewormer a moxidenctin product can be used. 
It is also important to deworm for tapeworms 1 or 2 times a year with a praziquantel product. Young horses are more susceptible to round worms and should be dewormed with a fenbendazole product every month for their first year.
Pasture management is also an important factor in controlling your horse’s parasite load. Maintaining the correct stocking rate on your property and not over stocking your pastures will help prevent overgrazing and will reduce fecal contamination. Clean and dispose of manure in pastures and mow pastures regularly to help break up manure and expose parasite eggs to the sun.
“There is no such thing as a one size fit all program” so every horse owner should work with their veterinarian to develop a deworming program to fit their horse’s needs. If you have questions regarding a parasite control plan or pasture management plan please contact your local Livestock Extension Agent.

Out with the old, in with the new. New deworming methods that is. In the past horse owners would deworm their horses every four to eight weeks to treat for intestinal parasites, but that is an outdated and incorrect method for treating intestinal parasites. By rotating dewormers every four to eight weeks you are creating parasite resistance to dewormers, and if this method continues horse owners could be left without an effective parasite – control weapon. The goal of deworming is to limit parasite infections so animals remain healthy and illness does not develop. Worm larvae is killed by extreme weather so once the temperature gets above 90 degrees Fahrenheit it is too hot for the parasite to complete its lifecycle. Treatment in Florida should be done during:
Fall
Winter
Spring
Before deworming your horse a Modified McMaster Fecal Egg Count Test on your horses fecal should be done by your veterinarian to see if your horse is a low, medium, or high shedder of parasite eggs. The fecal egg count test is done to identify horses who persistently carry higher loads of parasite eggs due to their immunity. Ivermectin is an effective product for treating large and small strongyles in adult horses. After deworming 14 days later you should also do a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test to see if the deworming product used was at least 90% effective. If your horse is resistant to the ivermectin dewormer a moxidenctin product can be used.
Pasture management is also an important factor in controlling your horse’s parasite load. Maintaining the correct stocking rate on your property and not over stocking your pastures will help prevent overgrazing and will reduce fecal contamination. Clean and dispose of manure in pastures and mow pastures regularly to help break up manure and expose parasite eggs to the sun.
“There is no such thing as a one size fit all program” so every horse owner should work with their veterinarian to develop a deworming program to fit their horse’s needs. If you have questions regarding a parasite control plan or pasture management plan please contact your local Livestock Extension Agent.

Out with the old, in with the new. New deworming methods that is. In the past horse owners would deworm their horses every four to eight weeks to treat for intestinal parasites, but that is an outdated and incorrect method for treating intestinal parasites. By rotating dewormers every four to eight weeks you are creating […]

Deworm Your Horse the Modern Way

Every so often I receive photos taken by anglers who have observed fish abnormalities while fishing. The typical question I get is, do you know what this is? If not, can you help me find someone who does? Regardless of whether or not I know the answer, my response is always the same; report it [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_3932" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3932" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Flounder_pigment_RalphAllen.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3932 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Two southern flounder. One with the typical white underside (right) and the other with almost full pigment on the right side. Looks like mother nature remembered at the last minute and shortchanged the head. Photo: Capt. Ralph Allen" width="300" height="200" data-src="http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Flounder_pigment_RalphAllen-300x200.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3932" class="wp-caption-text">Gulf flounder have a pigmented left (upper) side and a white right (under) side. In this photo both flounder are displayed on the right side. Looks like mother nature remembered the right side should be white at the last minute in the flounder on the left, and stopped painting just before reaching the head. Photo: Capt. Ralph Allen</figcaption></figure>
Every so often I receive photos taken by anglers who have observed fish abnormalities while fishing. The typical question I get is, do you know what this is? If not, can you help me find someone who does? Regardless of whether or not I know the answer, my response is always the same; report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission&#8217;s (FWC) Fish Kill hotline. But the fish isn’t dead! It’s OK, FWC’s Fish Kill hotline is maintained by their Fish and Wildlife Health section (FWH), and that section is also interested in fish abnormalities.
Having all fish abnormality reports go to one spot is good for the fishery. It allows scientists to quickly identify immerging issues and respond with management strategies to protect our fishery resource.
Fish abnormalities include lesions, parasites, tumors, skeletal deformities, and a whole host of other things. Recently, I reached out to Micah Bakenhaster, a fish health expert with FWC’s FWH section and asked him to answer a few questions I thought readers would be interested in. His responses are below.
1. What does the FWC FWH section do and why?
The FWC Fish and Wildlife Health research group monitors the health of wild fish populations, conducts basic and applied research on fish pathogens, and tracks fish kills with the aim of providing information and appropriate response to public concerns about aquatic animal health and disease.
<figure id="attachment_3924" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3924" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blacknoseshark_nemotodeeggs.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3924 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Blacknose shark with nematode eggs on belly caught in Charlotte Harbor. Capt. Ralph Allen Photo" width="225" height="300" data-src="http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blacknoseshark_nemotodeeggs-225x300.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3924" class="wp-caption-text">A blacknose shark with nematode eggs on its belly, caught in Charlotte Harbor and reported to the Fish Kill Hotline by Capt. Ralph Allen. Photo credit same</figcaption></figure>
2. What are some common fish abnormalities? (genetic, parasitic, etc.)
Parasites are perhaps the most commonly encountered abnormalities in wild fish populations; although, they are rarely associated with significant disease. As a general rule, other abnormalities such as skeletal deformities, fin rot, ulcers, and tumors are relatively rare but they are expected to occur in a small portion of a healthy fish population.
3. What’s the most bizarre abnormalities you have encountered?
I would be hard pressed to choose a particular type of abnormality as most bizarre, from isopod parasites living in the mouths of fish to a fully grown eyeless snook to a parasite infection so intense that the fish seems to have a tumor. Fish can be amazing survivors, tolerating conditions that would seem not survivable to humans.
4. What are some of the causes for fish tumors or lesions?
Although many people use the term ‘lesion’ to refer to ulcers (deep, open sores) it actually includes a wide variety of abnormalities such as tumors, fin rot, and skeletal deformities, all of which can have many causes including biological pathogens such as bacteria and fungus and non-biological ones such as chemical contaminants. It can be very difficult to determine the cause of a lesion, and frequently they are the result of multiple interacting factors.
<figure id="attachment_3926" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3926" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/shrimp_whitish_discoloration.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3926 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Shrimp with parasitic masses found in Indian River Lagoon 2005 - FWC Photo" width="300" height="217" data-src="http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletter/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/shrimp_whitish_discoloration-300x217.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3926" class="wp-caption-text">Anglers in the Indian River Lagoon alerted FWC to shrimp with parasitic masses in 2005 &#8211; FWC Photo</figcaption></figure>
5. Can you give an example of a time when angler reporting provided an early warning to an environmental health problem?
We depend on anglers to help us recognize when and where abnormalities are unusually common or severe. Anglers and other concerned citizens were responsible for notifying us about an outbreak of fungal disease in fish from the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers in the mid-90’s. The reports coincided with releases of large amounts of fresh water from Lake Okeechobee and ultimately helped us to promote the use of staggered water releases by the Army Corps of Engineers to minimize the problem.
6. What are some common causes of fish kills?
Algae blooms are the most common cause of fish kills in Florida. These include red tide in the Gulf of Mexico and other types of blooms that occur frequently in brackish and freshwater estuaries and ponds. Some, like red tide, are capable of producing toxins, but all have the potential to use up oxygen in the water to the point that fish and other animals can suffocate.
7. Anything else you want to share?
The FWH group has been working on a wildlife reporting app that will be released later this year. It will allow the public to submit a variety of reports regarding wildlife disease and mortality (aquatic and terrestrial animals), nuisance animals, animal sightings (e.g. lionfish, exotic species, panthers, etc.), and more.
How to report fish kills and/or fish abnormalities &#8211; Anglers can report fish kills and fish abnormalities by calling the Fish Kill hotline at 1-800-636-0511. When reporting over the telephone it is important to include the following in your message: 1) the location and the type and number of fish involved; and 2) a mailing address and a phone number or e-mail address so Fish and Wildlife Health staff can call back if they need more information. Anglers can also report fish kills and fish abnormality by submitting an online report at the following website: <a href="https://public.myfwc.com/FWRI/FishKillReport/Submit.aspx">https://public.myfwc.com/FWRI/FishKillReport/Submit.aspx</a>

Gulf flounder have a pigmented left (upper) side and a white right (under) side. In this photo both flounder are displayed on the right side. Looks like mother nature remembered the right side should be white at the last minute in the flounder on the left, and stopped painting just before reaching the head. Photo: Capt. Ralph Allen
Every so often I receive photos taken by anglers who have observed fish abnormalities while fishing. The typical question I get is, do you know what this is? If not, can you help me find someone who does? Regardless of whether or not I know the answer, my response is always the same; report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish Kill hotline. But the fish isn’t dead! It’s OK, FWC’s Fish Kill hotline is maintained by their Fish and Wildlife Health section (FWH), and that section is also interested in fish abnormalities.
Having all fish abnormality reports go to one spot is good for the fishery. It allows scientists to quickly identify immerging issues and respond with management strategies to protect our fishery resource.
Fish abnormalities include lesions, parasites, tumors, skeletal deformities, and a whole host of other things. Recently, I reached out to Micah Bakenhaster, a fish health expert with FWC’s FWH section and asked him to answer a few questions I thought readers would be interested in. His responses are below.
1. What does the FWC FWH section do and why?
The FWC Fish and Wildlife Health research group monitors the health of wild fish populations, conducts basic and applied research on fish pathogens, and tracks fish kills with the aim of providing information and appropriate response to public concerns about aquatic animal health and disease.
A blacknose shark with nematode eggs on its belly, caught in Charlotte Harbor and reported to the Fish Kill Hotline by Capt. Ralph Allen. Photo credit same
2. What are some common fish abnormalities? (genetic, parasitic, etc.)
Parasites are perhaps the most commonly encountered abnormalities in wild fish populations; although, they are rarely associated with significant disease. As a general rule, other abnormalities such as skeletal deformities, fin rot, ulcers, and tumors are relatively rare but they are expected to occur in a small portion of a healthy fish population.
3. What’s the most bizarre abnormalities you have encountered?
I would be hard pressed to choose a particular type of abnormality as most bizarre, from isopod parasites living in the mouths of fish to a fully grown eyeless snook to a parasite infection so intense that the fish seems to have a tumor. Fish can be amazing survivors, tolerating conditions that would seem not survivable to humans.
4. What are some of the causes for fish tumors or lesions?
Although many people use the term ‘lesion’ to refer to ulcers (deep, open sores) it actually includes a wide variety of abnormalities such as tumors, fin rot, and skeletal deformities, all of which can have many causes including biological pathogens such as bacteria and fungus and non-biological ones such as chemical contaminants. It can be very difficult to determine the cause of a lesion, and frequently they are the result of multiple interacting factors.
Anglers in the Indian River Lagoon alerted FWC to shrimp with parasitic masses in 2005 – FWC Photo
5. Can you give an example of a time when angler reporting provided an early warning to an environmental health problem?
We depend on anglers to help us recognize when and where abnormalities are unusually common or severe. Anglers and other concerned citizens were responsible for notifying us about an outbreak of fungal disease in fish from the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers in the mid-90’s. The reports coincided with releases of large amounts of fresh water from Lake Okeechobee and ultimately helped us to promote the use of staggered water releases by the Army Corps of Engineers to minimize the problem.
6. What are some common causes of fish kills?
Algae blooms are the most common cause of fish kills in Florida. These include red tide in the Gulf of Mexico and other types of blooms that occur frequently in brackish and freshwater estuaries and ponds. Some, like red tide, are capable of producing toxins, but all have the potential to use up oxygen in the water to the point that fish and other animals can suffocate.
7. Anything else you want to share?
The FWH group has been working on a wildlife reporting app that will be released later this year. It will allow the public to submit a variety of reports regarding wildlife disease and mortality (aquatic and terrestrial animals), nuisance animals, animal sightings (e.g. lionfish, exotic species, panthers, etc.), and more.
How to report fish kills and/or fish abnormalities – Anglers can report fish kills and fish abnormalities by calling the Fish Kill hotline at 1-800-636-0511. When reporting over the telephone it is important to include the following in your message: 1) the location and the type and number of fish involved; and 2) a mailing address and a phone number or e-mail address so Fish and Wildlife Health staff can call back if they need more information. Anglers can also report fish kills and fish abnormality by submitting an online report at the following website: https://public.myfwc.com/FWRI/FishKillReport/Submit.aspx

Every so often I receive photos taken by anglers who have observed fish abnormalities while fishing. The typical question I get is, do you know what this is? If not, can you help me find someone who does? Regardless of whether or not I know the answer, my response is always the same; report it […]

Got a fish health question?

Invertebrates

Organisms

Organismos

Pathogens

Patógenos 

Pests

Plagas

Invertebrate organisms that live on or in another organism (the host), and benefit at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic bacteria; fungi; viruses; and plants; though they may live parasitically. [NALT]
An organism that lives at the expense of another (host) during some portion of its life cycle. Usually a parasite does not kill its host. [AGROVOC]

An ectoparasite lives outside the host's body, on the host's surface. [<a href="http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10532">AGROVOC</a>]

Ectoparasites

Ectoparásitos

Plant parasitic Nematodes

The terms used for Ask IFAS organization are selected with consideration of the terminology used in UF/IFAS publications and programs, as well as the terms recommended by the U.S. National Agricultural Library Thesaurus (NALT) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's AGROVOC thesaurus.&nbsp;

Browse AskIFAS Terms

Tipos de tópicos Ask IFAS

Animals

A general term for organisms which may cause illness or damage to humans or to crops, livestock, or materials important to humans. [NALT]
An animal, plant, fungus or other organism that thrives in places where it is not wanted by people, for example in fields, with livestock, in forests or in gardens. [AGROVOC]

Microorganisms, viruses and parasites that can cause disease.

Parasites

Narrower Topics

Ectoparasites

Fish Parasites

Plant parasitic Nematodes

Poultry Parasites

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Broader Topics

Invertebrates

Organisms

Pathogens

Pests

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