Chemotherapy of fish diseases: a review

Fish suffer from environmental, nutritional, viral, bacterial, parasitic, and neoplastic diseases, many of which are similar to those of higher animals. The prevention and treatment of these diseases follow the same principles as diseases of other animals. Fish culture is similar to poultry husbandry in that large numbers of animals are crowded into relatively small areas, feeding is free choice, and medication for systemic infections is usually oral. External treatment of fishes is more common than of poultry, due to a higher frequency of external diseases. Many of the drugs and chemicals used in chemotherapy of fishes are the same as for higher animals. The following is a brief review of the more important drugs and their methods of administration.