Abstract

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) - aka "cold laser" - has been used in human and veterinary medicine in Europe since the 1990s. Finding it effective in personal use, I wanted to see what applications might be useful in a public aquarium setting.

A chronically limping African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) was a perfect test case. It had been limping for several months. The penguin was doing best on a combination of Metacam® (Boehringer Ingelhiem), omega-3 and tramadol, but still had a major limp. She was presented to the university for CT scanning and repeat x-ray. The radiologist diagnosis was degenerative joint disease of the stifle. I started treatment at a cautious low energy level and saw no change. I increased the Joules and size of area treated. After just two weeks (and 4 treatments) at this higher energy, she was walking almost normally. She was soon on a maintenance treatment schedule of about once a month. Then I started to back off of the medications, first tramadol, then omega-3, then Metacam®. Even as these were removed there was no limping. She has been maintained on laser treatments about once a month and no medications. If treatment is delayed, the limping returns.

I used it to treat wounds on animals including rub lesions on cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) and stomatitis in a savanna monitor lizard (Varanus exanthematicus).

I also tried it on two fish that were in holding for chronic (over a year) HLLE. Due to scheduling and staffing issues, they were treated less often than I thought was ideal, yet we were still seeing positive changes in the lesions.

Next, I set up a small trial, since we had two more purple tangs (Zebrasoma xanthurum) in holding with chronic HLLE. Nothing was changed about their husbandry conditions or tank mates. My plan was to treat three times a week for two weeks, then twice a week for 2–3 weeks to see how things were progressing. We were able to treat just twice a week. The control animal was handled the same as the treated fish (same amount and timing of anaesthesia, same physical handling, used laser probe with red light but no laser for the same amount of time, and the same recovery). There was no change on the control animal, but the treated animal had noticeable improvement (HLLE lesions shrinking and becoming pigmented). Due to staffing issues, I was asked to end the trial early.

I know work has been done using Regranex® (becaplermin) to treat HLLE.^1-3 Based on my experience using laser with becaplermin to treat a wound in a fresh water stingray (Potamotrygon motoro), I decided to use both in the treated fish and only becaplermin in the fish that had no laser. Both animals now showed improvement, but the fish treated with both laser and becaplermin had more complete healing.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Companion Laser Therapy for use of the laser unit, "Laser Les" for his training and treatment recommendations and the biologists and aquarists at Adventure Aquarium for their assistance handling the animals.

References

1.  Adams L, Michalkiewiz J. Effect of Regranex gel concentration or post application contact time on the healing rate of head and lateral line erosions in marine tropical fish. In: IAAAM 36th Annual Conference Proceedings, Seward, AK; 2005:106–107.

2.  Fleming G, Corwin A, McCoy AJ, Stamper MA. Treatment factors influencing the use of recombinant platelet-derived growth factor (Regranex®) for head and lateral line erosion syndrome in ocean surgeon fish (Acanthurus bahianus). J Zoo Wildlife Med. 2008;39(2):155–160.

3.  Roberts H. Fundamentals of Ornamental Fish Health. New York: John Wiley and Sons; 2009:222.