Intestinal Worms


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Intestinal Worms

	Symptoms: Symptoms are typically absent unless the disease is severe or advanced. Characteristic symptoms include visible worms protruding from the anal pore and an emaciated fish that appears thin or grossly distended.

	Cause: Various helminthes such as cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes (roundworms) and acanthocephalans (spine-headed worms). Digenetic flukes may also be responsible, but are rarely pathogenic in fish.

	Treatment: Treatment is usually unnecessary, as most infestations pass undetected and the parasite is usually unable to complete its life cycle due to the absence of the required host (e.g., fish-eating birds). Camallanus nematodes are an exception as they can multiply within the confines of the aquarium. In this case, treatment with an antihelmintic medication is desirable (see Camallanus for more).