|
|
| Well now I'm on a roll - here's the next question. I've noticed a bunch of photo's posted on the web and in the Muskie mags where the fish is obviously infected w/ what appears to be lymphosarcoma. See the link for more information.
http://www.muskiesinc.org/lymphosarcoma-research.cfm
Anyone have any recommendations for handling these fish and or disinfecting your hands and equipment to prevent the spread of this disease to the next Muskie you handle?
Al Warner
www.youdontknowhowtowatchtv.com
|
|
| |
|
| I always try to lick it off. Try and use the whole tongue not just the tip for maximun cleaning performance.
warning: These stunts are perforemed by professionals.
MUSKIE ILLINI
"MILF! MILF! MILF! MILF! MILF!" |
|
| |
|
| Al:
I really wouldn't worry about spreading any disease through handling fish caught while fishing. If anyone catches a fish that has lymphosarcoma, and has the experience to correctly diagnose the problem you might as well harvest the fish if it's of legal size. Lymphosarcoma is about 100% lethal, and get the fish to DNR personal. I guess the problem would be in the correct diagnoses.
I don't think that most DNR lake survey or egg stripping crews do anything special with any of their equipment after handling many fish, at least we never used to.
Doug Johnson
|
|
| |
|
| Yes- Doug, You just confirmed what I've been able to w/ limited information on the Internet. If the fish has Lymphoscarmona- it's highly contagious to other fish, i.e., because it's caused by a virus. It will die! Primary transfer of this virus seems to be during spawning, or direct contact between fish. This means that handling a infected fish and then a healthy fish may be another disease transfer method. Therefore my question in this post! It seems that with the plethora of science out there, there would be some great educational sites with good graphics/ photo's etc. to enable positive identification of this serious disease.
Here's what I've managed to find so far.
http://www.muskiesinc.org/lymphosarcoma-research.cfm
http://interactive.usask.ca/skinteractive/modules/fisheries/habitat...
http://www.cabi-publishing.org/Bookshop/Readingroom/0851991262/1262...
http://www.aquaworldnet.com/dbws/neoplasm.htm#lympho
http://www.geocities.com/pgwiebe/Diseases1.html
http://members.tripod.com/~Muskie_Guy/sickski02.jpg
http://wildlife.usask.ca/english/backNewsLetters/NewVol3No2.htm#bes...
Maybe this is a good reaserch and educational project for MF Reaserch- Muskies Inc seems to be up on the serious consequences, but don't really offer much other than a reporting form. Of course many of those rough looking Muskies we see out there may be battle scar's that are ulcerated and/or lamprey wounds. But there has to be some positive identifiers. I would at least expect the biologist's out there to help out in positive disease identification. Some really good digital photo's of typical diseased fish would be benefical to both the Muskie fisherman and the long term health of the fishery.
From what I've read, I agree 100% - these fish should be harvested to remove them from the disease transfer cycle. What if it's not legal size- seems like a stupid thing to let it infect the rest of the fishery. There should be a law that allow's an obviously diseased fish to be harvested and turned over to the state or DNR biologist's for analysis. I honestly don't believe this fish should count against your legal harvest. Besides these fish are unfit for human consumption and would make for a pretty ugly mount.
Maybe it's time for the Muskie community to move to the next paradigm beyond CPR. That is removal of diseased fish to protect the fishery.
Al Warner
www.idontknowhowtowatchtv.com |
|
| |
|
| I have been told that lymphosarcoma and red spot are two different things. Lymphosarcoma is fatal as DougJ said, but red spot may heal and the fish may live. I agree that it would be great if MF could do some research into this and educate us as to how to differentiate if possible. |
|
| |
|
| In a recent MH article by Steve Heiting called "The thinking man's.....?", what is the spot on that fish????????? |
|
| |
|
| Here is a good shot of Lympho. For those interested. [:sun:] |
|
| |
|
| Try again. |
|
| |
|
| ewwwww, that looks nasty![:knockout:] |
|
| |
|
| The subject of lymphosarcoma came up during my annual meeting with Ontario M.N.R. Senior Research Biologist Dr. Mark Ridgway. It came up because I had caught a respectably sized muskie on opening day with a very signficiant tumour on its side ( 2 1/2" across). That fish was tagged and released. In August, that fish was recaptured (by me), and other than some scarring, the tumour was totally gone. Mark's comments were that there are lots about this disease we don't know. There could very well be different strains of lympho... some fatal, some not. Can anglers differentiate? Likely not. This would likely require labratory testing. It's full level of "spreadability" is not known, but he said that M.N.R. Research personnel are trained NOT to touch the area, and to wipe their hands down thoroughly after handling an infected fish.
He recommended that ONLY fish that are clearly in a state of distress should be killed, and then only if they meet legal length requirements, and that you are not fishing under a Conservation license. His concern is that fish with non-lethal lympho, or red-spot may be killed unnecessarily by well intentioned but untrained anglers.
Certainly an area of opportunity for future muskie research.
Steve Wickens |
|
| |
lymphosarcoma?