Brooklynella

BROOKLYNELLA

Brooklynella is the heavy amount of slime that is produced by this dinoflagellate usually starting near the gills.

Brooklynella and Oodinium are parasitic dinoflagellates which can infect and kill many species of saltwater fish. Similar to Crytptocaryon (Marine Ich and other external fish parasites, this Dinoflagellate is much more dangerous in the confines of an aquarium, especially a small overcrowded tank due to rapid re-production.

Brooklynella is extremely hardy and can withstand a wide variety of salinity variables, and temperature fluctuations. However the number of infective organisms that are found in the water in any given area is very small.

These small numbers can quickly explode.  Stress and low immunity are more of a factor with brooklynella, so prevention is important.

Similar to Cryptocaryon, the infective Dinospore, which is free-swimming; the attached Trophont, which is found on external surfaces in contact with environmental water; and the mature cyst/ dividing Tomont.

The mature cyst can release hundreds of Dinospores which are free swimming and impossible to see with the naked eye. Since these Dinoflagellates do not have Chloroplasts like their freshwater cousins, must have a host to survive. Usually these Dinospores can only live 48 hours to one week without a host.

The gills are where the Brooklynella Dinospores attack first due to the soft tissue that is easy to pentetrate. The Dinospore attaches a filament into the host fish for feeding becoming a Trophont. After anywhere from 24 hours to a few days, the Trophonts cease feeding and form a Cyst to fall off a 

  

Fish Health Articles

All stages possess a cellulose cell wall that can make them difficult to treat, however the Dinospore stage is the most susceptible to treatment..

BROOKLYNELLA TREATMENT

Quinine Sulfate is the best stuff that we have for brook outbreaks.  I have used it over and over again, especially on clownfish...to treat brook, ich and protozoan ciliates with great success.  One dose, one week of treatment and it's gone.  If you are a marine hobbyist, you need quinine in your medicine chest.

 

Dr. Brian G. Aukes; PhD.
Chief Pathologist, National Fish Pharmaceuticals