It is this time of the year again with so many complaints of Carp pox.

Just received another enquiry and I enclose my response. What would your reply be?

Hi Paul,



Hope this email finds you well,

Hope all is good and well. Things are fine on my side no problems.

I have a question to ask you about one of my koi seem to have carpox on the back of the head and getting bigger is it worthwhile cutting it out or culling? It is a doitse kohaku please could you help me with this. Thanks


My reply:

I would not cut it out. It might just cause bacterial infection and due to the possible breeding ground, infect your other fish.

Not much you can do. It is a virus. The experts say it is not contagious, but I am starting to doubt this. I have seen too many times that fish gets Carp pox after being introduced to other fish with Carp pox, but it might be coincidence.

I have heard that people treat it with Virkon S, but it is not an official treatment, and I can not vouch for that.

Remember that it will probably outgrow the pox with time, and as you probably know, it will dissappear in summer again.

If some of my fish gets it and it is not of great value, I normally cull them. One fish in a pond with Carp Pox creates a poor overall impression of your fish and overall health, although it is not a sign of bad water management.

The decision is yours.

Good luck.

Paul

Hi,

Carp pox is a virus!

I am not going to write everything about it again..................check 2nd article at:

http://southafricankoi.11.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=191

Looks like it is a computer virus, the link does not work.

(Paul wrote)
(and as you probably know, it will dissappear in summer again.)

Hi all
I have a chagoi with carp pox in summer it is ther. I find in winter it goes away. my question is it carp pox ??.

Pieter J de Villiers wrote:

Hi,

Carp pox is a virus!

It is a virus as I said, but if you cut it out as many people do, the wound often develops into a bacterial infection because the open wound often opens a door to bacteria.

[quote="DAVIDI have a chagoi with carp pox in summer it is ther. I find in winter it goes away. my question is it carp pox ??.
[/quote]

Papilloma, also known as Papillomatosis. indicated by the redness of the mark.

Hi,

Just want to mention, Papilloma is from the Carp Pox family and is more active in cold water.
Papilloma are similar in appearance to carp pox as well, with large areas appearing on the fins, especially around the hard leading ray.
The average size is around 5mm and may be present on Koi in large numbers in some cases.
Sometimes you may notice tumour-like growths which look red or pink.

It could also be Dermocystidium Koi, Sometimes mistaken for fungus, carp pox or papilloma. The reason is clear; it looks very much like carp pox except in the advanced stages, where it takes on a yellow colour in the centre of the cyst with reddening around the circumference and a slight pitting in the centre of the cyst. This can make a Dermocystidium infection look very “angry” indeed.

Please note that for an Ulcer to develop there should be:

The presence of PATHOGENIC BACTERIA:
The usual bacteria isolated are environmental contaminants such as AROMONAS SPECIES or PSEUDOMONAS.
Other occasionally found include CITROBACTOR and EDWARDSIELLA. Also, to mention are FLEXIBCTOR and CYTOPHAGA.

and/or

The presence of SYNERGISTIC BACTERIA:
In most cases of Ulcer disease in Koi, it is usually AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA that is isolated. However it is thought that this is a secondary invader, and that it is a different species, A. SALMONICIDA ACHROMOGENS, that is able to form the initial lesion which A. HYDROPHILA subsequently invades and swamps out the slower growing A. SLAMONICIDA. In the presence of a breach in the skin or when bacteria gain in sufficient numbers, this becomes a problem as the tissue is destroyed and an ulcer forms.