The Pond Doc's Koi Health News
Posted September 27, 1997
Tests Conducted on New Treatment Method for Ulcers Yield Positive Results!
Our very own Pond Doc, Cecil Ferguson, has been testing a method of treatment against certain strains of aeromonas from Japan that, up until now, has been difficult to fight. Although final tests are not complete it appears the treatment is curing ulcers with quick results and minimal loss of fish life.
"It is not a cure-all for all strains of aeromonas" Cecil said, "however, preliminary results are showing that it has positive effects on some strains."
He has released his findings to several Koi Health Experts with hope that they too will test his method and share their results. The following is what was released to those experts.
Koi Health News Release
New Injectibles
18-Sep-97
Revised, 27-Sep-97
From The Pond Doc, Cecil Ferguson
Email
http://www.ponddoc.com
770-663-6325
During Dr. Erik Johnson’s last Health Seminar in
Atlanta I mentioned to him that I was experimenting with 2 new injectibles. I did not want
to release the results until I felt they were safe. At this time I am confident the
experimental treatments are indeed safe to use in our battle to wipe out aeromonas.
The 2 drugs that I am working with are Cipro
IV/Ciprofloxacin and Bactrim IV/Septra/Trimethoprim IV & Sulfamethoxazole IV. I have
Dr. Galen Hansen to thank for the idea from his recipe for medicated food. These 2 drugs
are available as an injectible. In humans they are only given intravenously and not
intramuscularly. I asked myself, "What will happen if I inject an antibiotic intended
for intravenous administration in humans with a syringe into a fish?" With the
possibility of sacrificing a few fish I tried my idea. My findings are that these 2 drugs
injected by the IP and IM method into koi are safe. I would like now to share my findings
with the Koi Community with hope that others will test these drugs and release their
findings and opinions as well.
The tests were conducted this spring and summer on 98 fish that had ulcers, dropsy and mouth infection. Here are the particulars:
Twelve small fish died immediately upon injection – I suspect it was the trauma from the injections and not the medication. One 14" Ogon healed after 2 series of shots – then mysteriously died 5 days later.
Six 6-8" butterflies died within 3 hours after injection – these fish were injected with both antibiotics given in the peritonal space. The PDR book states not to mix Bactrim/Septra IV with other medications. I believe the closeness of the injection sites allowed the medication to mix, resulting in the death of the fish.Total Losses were 21 out of 98
The method used for injection was Cipro IV given IP and Bactrim/Septra IV given IM at the dorsal fin. The dosage and site for injections were taken from Dr. Johnson’s book, "Koi Health & Disease". Cipro IV was dosed as Chloramphenicol/Chloromycetin and Bactrim/Septra IV was dosed as Azactam.
Results of these dual injections were outstanding on ulcers. They were healing after 2 series of shots. Mouth infections did not respond as quickly and, in some cases, not at all. The 2 fish with dropsy did not respond and died.
My most recent test was on eight 6 to 8" butterflies. Injections were done for 3 consecutive days using a combination of Cipro IV, Gentamicin and Bactrim/Septra IV. Doses were:
1st day -- Cipro IV, 0.4cc. / Gentamicin, 0.1cc.
2nd day – Cipro IV, 0.4cc. / Bactrim/Septra IV 0.1cc.
3rd day – Cipro IV 0.4cc / Gentamicin 0.1cc.
Results were ulcers and mouth infections all healed. I would like to try this on dropsy but did not have a specimen available. I believe this is the most effective of all the drug combinations I have tried.
I feel that Cipro IV has the longest kill list of any antibiotic. If its dosage can be increased, it may be the 1 drug that can accomplish the best results when used alone. My next experiment, when I gather more specimens, will be to increase the Cipro IV dosage and to use it by itself. Cipro IV comes in a weak solution 1% 10mg per ml. It is considered to be a harsh drug with skin and bone complications in human, necessitating the slower IV route and not a straight injectible. We need to find out if the fish will except higher volumes of Cipro IV and Bactrim/Septra IV without complications.
Cipro IV (Ciprofloxacin) is supplied in two different vial containers, 20 mL-200 mg, 1% and 40 mL-400 mg, 1%. Storage should be between 41 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Cipro IV is normally diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose when used IV in humans. This mixture is stable up to 14 days at room temperature or refrigerated. Since I did not dilute it with any other carrier I would suspect the potency to remain for several months or possibly through the bottle expiration date. This is an expensive drug to purchase.
Bactrim/Septra IV is supplied in 5 ml ampuls containing 80 mg trimethoprim (16 mg / ml) and 400 mg sulfamethoxazole (80 mg / ml) and also in 10 ml vials containing 160 mg trimethoprim (16 mg / ml) and 800 mg sulfamethoxazole (80 mg / ml). It is mixed with 5% Dextrose for IV use in humans. Bactrim/Septra IV should be stored between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not refrigerate, protect from light and do not mix with other drugs. Since I used Bactrim/Septra IV without a carrier the potency should remain for several months or through the bottle expiration date.
In conclusion, I feel Cipro IV and Bactrim/Septra IV are safe for injection of koi. They may be used alone or together as long as the injections are not in the same area. Short term -- good results, no major problems. Long term -- I cannot say yet if complications will arise from these antibiotics, only time will tell.
Over the last 2 years I have had the opportunity to inject several hundred fish. I have used Baytril, Chloramphenicol/Chloromycetin, Amikacin, Nuflor and Gentamicin. The drug that has given me the best results has been Azactam. The drug that has given me the least results has been Baytril. The drug that has been associated with the most deaths after injections has been Gentamicin. I suspect with further testing that we will see Cipro IV rise to the top as the most efficient drug against aeromonas. I do agree with Dr. Hansen that, in most cases, we are dealing with different strains of bacteria and no one drug is effective on all of them. If dual injections are safe (which in most cases I believe they are) it certainly behooves us to attack aeromonas from all sides. If you feel uncomfortable administering dual injections (which I have been experimenting with since last October with no major problems) at least switch antibiotics after 2 or 3 injections if the fish is not starting to heal.
I will look forward to hearing from other koi professionals concerning these findings and I am hoping that this will encourage others to further test these antibiotics and make public their results.
Don't wait until
it's too late! Go now to The Pond Doc's "Emergency First Aid" Page and print out
directions for first aid treatment in times of a crisis.
© copyright 1997 - 2008 by PondDoc.com. All Rights Reserved.
