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Wormy Seafood--Eeewww! (2/7/04)
Hey I found this weird looking worm swimming around on a plate of food
during dinner and I am now concerned as to what the heck it is. <OMG!
I'd have tossed my cookies on the spot. Was it alive?> We were having cod,
scallops, and salad. <At a restaurant?> I am not sure which the worm came
from, if any. The cod was fresh and was well-cooked in a 350 degree
oven so I'm not sure if that was the source. The worm was about an
inch long I guess, it was a cream color and one end was a rusty color. The
rust colored end must have been the head, because of how it swam. <I'm
feeling more nauseated by the minute.> It moved more like a snake than like a
nightcrawler type of worm. It kept lifting up its head and foremost
body, as if to look around or maybe just to get air. But it was also
able to tolerate being under fluid for awhile. <You're not kidding me her are
you? I'll take what your saying as reality here. Were the scallops raw? A live
worm could only have come from the salad.>
I am so grossed out <me too, and I only read about it>, I hope
this isn't something that could cause serious illness if one of us ate one.
<Doubtful to be honest, but if you get sick, see your doctor right away.>
Please mail me back and let me know what you think it might be and if there are
any pictures I can look though on the web to identify it. <I really don't
know where you should look. I can't believe that this worm came from properly
cooked seafood. Do you still have it? If so, take a picture & send it
along.> I'm trying to find a picture of a Phocanema decipiens, got any ideas?
<Couldn't fin a picture on the web. Like all nematodes, this infection comes
from ingesting larvae from raw or undercooked fish.> Thanks!
<Hope this helps some. Reminds me of the time my father chewed up a used band
aid in his food at a restaurant in Mountain View, CA in the 70s. The jerks
wouldn't even refund the cost of his meal. Nowadays, he could probably get
thousands of dollars in a law suit. Seriously though, do monitor your health and
if you have a problem, consult your physician. This episode also serves as a
reminder to all of the need to clean/prepare/cook all foods properly. Steve
Allen.>
Wormy Seafood 2 (2/8/04)
Hi again, and thank you for the quick reply! <No problem.>
Nope, I was NOT joking about that worm. Actually, it was on my son's
plate and when he showed it to me, I was extremely disgusted and decided not to
eat. I had every intention of saving that worm and trying to find out
what it was. Unfortunately, someone decided to play with it and they
cut it in half. It doesn't even look the
same now, it was very thin and stringy to begin with. There was mostly salad
left on the plate, and it may have come from that, except it looked like it was
really used to swimming. Anyhow, it still makes me sick to think about it.
<Understandable. Again, it is hard to believe the worm came from the fish
since you cooked it properly.>
That band-aid story was gross too and you're right, if that had
happened in more recent times, your dad would be rich. I can't
believe they wouldn't even refund his money! <They sure should have.> Rose
:-) <I certainly hope you all remain well. Steve Allen>
Figure Eight Puffer Parasite
Hello Mr. Fenner,
I acquired several Figure Eight Puffers for a tank that I recently
finished cycling. The Puffers are the only inhabitants. I've had Figure
Eights for almost a year now in another tank, so I'm pretty familiar with
the usual health problems that crop up with them, since most are wild
caught. One of my new Puffers was suffering from fungus, so I was treating
the whole tank with MarOxy as well as Maracyn and Maracyn ll for any
infection that might be present.
Unfortunately, yesterday the sick Puffer took a dramatic turn for the
worse and died. I wanted to get a closer look so I examined it under
close-up magnification. Photos of what I found are enclosed. The images
are magnified approximately 34X.
<Good photo work>
The parasites that I found aren't easily noticed with the naked eye. One
image shows an elongated lump near the tail of the Puffer that is actually
a worm living under the skin. Under magnification I could see it moving.
It's approximately one inch long and 1/16" in diameter. There were A
LOT of these worms under the skin on various areas of the fish.
<Yes... nematodes>
I was curious to see what might be lurking inside of the Puffer so I
sliced the stomach open. More worms rolled out of the body cavity. These
were in the body cavity and not in the intestine (I hadn't yet perforated
the intestine). The photo shows one of the worms measuring between 1"
and 1 1/4" in length and 1/16" diameter. Interestingly, when
touched the worm retracts into a coil.
<Typical>
The other photo enclosed shows a yellow area that I assume is infection or
irritation caused by the worms.
<Perhaps>
I've had no luck identifying this particular parasite. It just doesn't
resemble the descriptions I have found of other worm-like parasites of
fish. I'm hoping that you might know exactly what it is and also possibly
recommend a course of treatment.
I'm stumped!
Thanks in advance.
JoAnn VanDersarl
<Hmm, where to start, or how to narrow down a statement here... The
infestation you describe and show is likely resultant from an initial
exposure from the wild... these roundworm parasites typically have
"complex" life cycles that require one or more intermediate
hosts... Maybe some lack in diet, environmental challenge hastened the
"winning" (and ironically losing) phase of the worm parasites
causing the death of their host (and themselves), but perhaps not much...
It's very hard to access (unless you sacrifice and examine a significant
portion of a good size sample of individuals) how much of what their
parasite load is... All vertebrates (yes, including you and I) have
something of such a mix of organisms living in and on us... Please read
here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mardisease.htm and the FAQs beyond for
more of a general understanding of the predisposition to these events. Bob
Fenner> |
Weird white things?
Hi Bob-
<<JasonC actually, filling while Bob is out diving.>>
I've been reading your FAQ's since setting up my small marine
fish/invertebrate tank (30 gallon Eclipse 3). So far your advice to others has saved me some of the trial and error mistakes I've read about. <<Glad to hear it. Is certainly one of the
intended purposes of the site, so it's great to hear when it helps.>>
My tank has one piece of live rock and other rocks for hiding and also a
couple of fake plants for color. I'm using the Eclipse tank set up as it came (charcoal filter w/ bio-wheel) and have not added any other filtration due to the fact that the hood w/lights etc. does not allow for it. It seems to be working out OK.
It's stocked as follows:
I have one Maroon Clown and one Pygmy Basslet (Dottyback) for the fish.
One Coral Banded shrimp, 3 hermit crabs and three snails for scavengers. So far so good in regards to water quality and compatibility. <<and that sounds like a good mix for a 30, I'm sure it will be a great tank for some time to come.>>
I have a couple of questions:
I recently noticed on the glass and on the one piece of live rock in the
tank, very small (>.5mm) white curly snail-like? things. They are curled up like a spiral, and I have not seen them move. They also vary in size. Any idea what they might be? <<in fact I do, they're a calcium-based tube worm. Similar to feather dusters, but not exactly the same.>> should I leave them alone or try and get rid of them? <<Leave them alone for the most part unless they obscure your view, then you can scrape them off.>>
Also, what might round out my fish stocking options with this type of small tank set-up? I'm thinking one or two more max. <<Probably one max, and you'd better consult with your maroon clown before you do it... some of the larger ones would have nothing to do with a new visitor in this tank. If it's a small maroon clown, then perhaps... a neon goby? I just happen to like these a lot and think they are funny, good looking fish. Also usually cheap and easy to find, and in your case, a good fit that won't tip the balance.>>
Thanks!
Thom
<<You are welcome. Cheers, J -- >>
Sushi (benefits)
Hey Bob,
As a sushi aficionado I thought you'd find this interesting.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011115/sc/health_depression_dc_2.html
PF
<Thanks for this... couldn't/wouldn't disagree. Be chatting. Bob F>
Sea Urchin Question
Mr. Fenner-
My question relates to the use of Sea Urchin (Uni) as food in sushi bars and
Japanese restaurants.
<You know... as a kid in Japan I always wondered what Sea Urchin roe tasted like (too expensive for me then), and then when I moved to the source (Southern California) of a good deal of it, I couldn't understand what the big deal was/is... "Oh, you just haven't had it really fresh", I can hear my friends saying... Oh yeah? I've cracked Strongylocentrotus sanfriscanus tests open underwater, taken out my regulator mouthpiece and eaten it then/there... it is better fresh...>
Can any toxins at all be absorbed into the human body from eating Sea
Urchin/Uni the way it is served in Japanese restaurants? (Liver, stomach,
pancreas, etc.)
<Oh... I imagine there is some possibility... The biggest threat in my opinion is likely from "herring worm disease"
(anisikiasis)... have a bit about this posted on our site, here: http://wetwebmedia.com/roundwor.htm
Or, much more likely, liver disease from too much sake and good Japanese beer.
Mmm, I'm getting thirsty. My point is, there's probably a greater risk from breathing car fumes getting to/going from the sushi bar than ingesting sea urchin eggs. Bob Fenner. Oh! And should mention, these are used in many fish foods.>
Geoff Williams
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