Abstract

The use of a biological filter to help control water quality and an antifungal drug Ketoconazole have been successful in controlling and treating Candidiasis in a group of Tursiops truncatus. The biological filter reduced the amount of chlorine needed to maintain acceptable water quality.  It was felt that chlorine in the system encouraged Candidiasis by altering the normal bacterial flora of the animal's skin and caused additional stress on the animals.  A discussion of how the biological filter was adapted to the system and how well it functioned will be presented.  Ketoconazole proved to be effective in treating active cases of cutaneous Candidiasis. The case reports of two animals that received Ketoconazole will be discussed.

Notes

Chlorinated pools

• alter bacterial flora on skin causing decreased resistance to candida infection
• chloramines stress animals, thus decreasing their resistance to disease

Results of lower chlorine levels

• fewer chloramines.
• more bacteria
• more algae.
• a higher organic load
• overall better health of dolphins
• Candida infection inhibited.  High coliform counts will inhibit candidiasis.

Candidiasis

• the lesions started around the blowhole, then spread from there with hyperkeratosis and pigmentation.
• to eliminate Candida, treat the animal with ketoconazole (5 mg/kg QID), then clean its environment with steam.