Aerosol transmission

[Humblefish]

Disease transmission via aerosol​

Waterborne diseases can travel through the air infecting nearby tanks? Yeah, I didn't believe it at first either. I first heard of aerosol transmission from "billsreef," a highly respected Marine Biologist who posts on Reef Central. He had this to say:

The best case (example wise) I was involved with was an Amyloodinium outbreak. Professor I was working for decided to ignore my advice on QT'ing wild caught fish in another room, and brought them into the main lab. The outbreak in the lab reared stock occurred in a perfect semi circle (wall was on the other side ) around the wild caught stock, leap frogging over the tanks immediately next the wild caught stock. Perfectly matching the arc of spray from the breaking bubbles of the airstones, and infecting 2 separate but adjacent systems.

This got me thinking. From my own experience and that of others, I've experienced cases where a display tank (DT) inexplicably got ich. In each case, there was a quarantine tank (QT) in close proximity to the DT. Further research on the matter turned up this study (Roberts-Thompson et al 2006): Aerosol dispersal of the fish pathogen, Amyloodinium ocellatum

The abstract of which is as follows:

Amyloodinium ocellatum, a frequently encountered parasite in marine aquaculture, was investigated to determine if infective dinospore stages could be transported in aerosol droplets. We used an in vivo model incorporating static and dynamic airflow systems and found dinospores of A. ocellatum could travel in aerosol droplets (up to 440 mm in a static system and up to 3 m in a dynamic one). This is the first record of this transmission pathway for a marine protozoan parasite. It is possible that other marine protozoans can transfer via the aerobiological pathway. Management of A. ocellatum infections in aquaculture facilities could be affected, particularly where tanks and ponds are situated in close proximity.

Conclusions:

Amyloodinium's (aka Marine Velvet disease) dinospore stage is similar in nature to the "free swimming" stage of other external parasites. Cryptocaryon irritans (aka Marine Ich) has a theront stage, for example. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that these are transmissible via aerosol as well.

The study found that dinospores could travel in aerosol droplets up to 3 meters (or 9.84 feet) with dynamic airflow. Well, any room with an air vent or fan running can be considered "dynamic". So in light of this, I feel it is advisable to house your QT at least 10 feet away from the DT. This also applies to any two tanks that you want to ensure no cross contamination occurs. Now the study did show that aerosol transmission was only possible up to 440 mm (about 18 inches) in a room with no airflow. However, if you decide to "chance it" I would go so far as closing off all HVAC ducts to the room, which might make room temperature unstable.

It is well established that "anything wet" such as hands, equipment, feeding apparatus, etc. can cross contaminate diseases & medication from one tank to another. Now we know that aerosol droplets can do the same. I think it is also very possible for medications in the water to be transmissible via aerosol droplets. No one wants copper in their reef tank!

 

[Humblefish]

The full study can be found here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848606001785

 

[brandon429]

Humble

as soon as I saw your title I had to read

we have yapped online before in other threads specifically about aerosol xmissions of nitrifiers, cyano and various forms of algae. enter in ubiquitous hitchhikers stage left its fascinating vector biology.

 

[brandon429]

and the next wow is dry aerial floc bringing in essentially 'wet' biologist organisms and mixed aerobes to inoculate any body of water with the filter seeds and food (colonies that bloomed unsuited for the space) required. Any aerial vectoring can woo me. regardless of who on rc showed you the details its fun science. I was reading once where Niagara alone vectors out hundreds of miles and into the jet stream.

Hey Ethiopia, here's some gram negs from US/Can enjoy

 

[Shep]

Well from a biology/infectious disease stand point a human sneeze would be pretty similar the fine mist that tanks generate but other than that I can't say much esle. I would be somewhat doubtful of how well it would work because most things that use aerosol transmission are evolved in a way that is conducive to it, marine disease would have no use or experience with this so they would not be geared for it.

 

[Horn]

You are entitled to your opinion of the man. However, it is my prerogative to hold him in high regard and to use his anecdotal experience as an example for the purpose of this thread.

Its more then my opinion it is my experience. I will love to hear why you think he is such a great biologist. Was it a paper he published, article he wrote ,research he conducted or that he talks a big game on fourms.

The best case (example wise) I was involved with was an Amyloodinium outbreak. Professor I was working for decided to ignore my advice on QT'ing wild caught fish in another room, and brought them into the main lab.

Sounds like one of his BS stories. Bill is so much smarter then the professor he was working for.The professor should have listened to Bill. BLAH BLAH BLAH. He is the biology version of the keyboard ninja.

 

[4FordFamily]

Did he invent the internet like al gore?

 

[Humblefish]

I'm sorry... but I'm locking this. The intent of this thread is to inform/discuss the aspects of aerosol transmission. Not turn it into "Let's Bash Bill" to satisfy someone's personal vendetta.