The Fish Vet's Blog

Praziquantel is used widely to treat against flatworms such at gill flukes (Dactylogyrus) and skin flukes (Gyrodactylus). It can be used in-feed or in-water, depending on what you’re treating and the circumstances. But it’s notoriously difficult to dissolve in water.

If you’re treating the water, how do you dissolve this product? You could use a handheld blender perhaps? But that’s messy. I normally mix mine in a fish bag with water. And what else can you use to help dissolve the insoluble water? Did you know that you can use solvents such as ethanol and even formalin?

For oral medication, the powder is mixed dry with fish food, and then bound with some fish oil. On tuna farms, praziquantel is dissolved in propylene glycol and then injected into feed. The food is then frozen and fed out as needed.

This is a recording of the presentation I gave to veterinary students at Ross University, St Kitts & Nevis.

You’ll find helpful tips and resources on how to further your career in aquatic veterinary medicine.

The video is available at –  http://youtu.be/O8g8kL_xsM0

You may request for an updated copy of the presentation at – http://thefishvet.com.au/contact_us.html

 

After a whirlwind trip to the Carribean (to make presentations to veterinary students at Ross University) and to Denver (to present at the AVMA Convention), I am now back (though battling some jet lag), and available to be of service.

Apologies for the lack of posts during my travels if you’d missed me 🙂 The next few posts will be about the learnings and activities I did during the trip.

I’ve uploaded heaps of pictures from my trip on my Facebook Fanpage. You can check them out at <http://facebook.com/thefishvetdrloh>.

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
E: thefishvet
P: +61 (0)421 822 383

Q: Why did the teacher go to the beach?

A: To test the waters.

Check this out. They’ve real great personalities. Cool, calm, and massive amount of power.

Check this out!

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/40399/title/Slippery-Passion/

Thanks YW!

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
E: thefishvet
P: +61 (0)421 822 383

Small groups, top-tier instructors, and timely topics make these interactive labs a can’t-miss on your convention agenda. Interactive Labs have enrollment limits and additional fees, so register early to secure your space and receive the biggest savings.

What’s planned for this fantastic day of fish fun?

Monday, July 28

Finfish Clinical Exam & Diagnostic Sampling Wet Lab 1:00 – 4:50 PM

Level: 3 ID# 16273 CE: 4.00

Participants will receive hands-on experience in conducting sampling techniques for official health certificates. Fish farms and fish hatcheries need veterinarians who can conduct these techniques. Participants will get an initial training to be able to provide this service. Enrollment limited to 30 DVMs. Offsite Lab – Downtown Denver Aquarium

Learning Objectives:

Perform finfish anesthesia, gill and fin clips, skin scrapes phlebotomy and euthanasia of the fish
Perform sampling techniques for official health certificates
Perform necropsy and internal organ examination
Myron Kebus, Richmond Loh, Roxanna Smolowitz, Nicholas Saint-Erne
Fees: Standard $230. Non-member veterinarians add $50 per selection

Detailed Itinerary

12:30-1:15 AVMA arranged buses leave convention center and arrive at Denver Aquarium. Wetlab participants settle and wetlab didactic materials/agenda disseminated (Waltzek to bring printed copies).

1:15-1:30 Dr. Terry Campbell: Introduction to the aquarium and his role as veterinarian for the facility. Short presentation on the common koi pathogens observed on wet mounts (video).

1:30-1:45 Dr. Nick St-Erne: Demonstrate non-lethal sampling techniques on an ornamental fish. Quick physical exam on a koi followed by anesthetizing to obtain wet mount samples (fin, skin, gill) and phlebotomy. Dr. Terry Campbellwill take collected blood and demonstrate a blood smear. Pre-stained smears will be used to point out typical blood cells (projected onto screen using camera LCD projector connector provided by Dr. St-Erne).

1:45-2:00 Dr. Myron Kebus: Demonstrate lethal sampling of a food-fish species for health certificates. Freshly euthanized kokanee salmon (prior to arrival of participants) will be necropsied pointing out internal anatomy and tissues to be collected for microbiology/virology as needed for a hypothetical health certificate.

2:00-2:10 Restroom break. Participants organize into pairs and find one of six work stations (6 pairs and 1 group of 3 = 13 registered participants).

2:10-3:50 Drs. Campbell, St-Erne, Kebus, Loh, Smolowitz, Soto, Waltzek, Questen, Scarfe (Waltzek and Scarfe to float as needed): Each expert will assist their pair of participants in the skills that Drs. Campbell, St-Erne, and Kebus have demonstrated. Interesting parasites will be shared with the group via camera/LCD projector connector provided by Dr. St-Erne).

3:50-4:00 Wetlab wrap-up and acknowledgements.

4:00-5:00 Dr. Terry Campbell demonstrates Japanese art of fish printing (Gyotaku) using koi and kokanee.

5:00-6:00 Dr. Terry Campbell leads tour of the aquarium (interested participants need to purchase a ticket separately from registration fee).Drs. St-Erne, Kebus, Loh, Smolowitz, Soto, Waltzek, Questen, Scarfe stay behind and break down the wetlab.

6:30-7:00 AVMA arranged buses leave Denver Aquarium and return wetlab participants to convention center.

Sign up now at http://www.avmaconvention.org/

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
President at the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association
W: http://www.wavma.org