Introduction to Fish Health Course

Annual Introduction to Fish Health Course

Each winter, the La Crosse Fish Health Center offers a beginner-level course that familiarizes participants with the signs, causes, and methods for control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious fish diseases. The course includes lectures and hands-on lab training.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize and identify the external or gross signs of more common fish diseases and parasites;
• Stain slides for preliminary identification of common disease organisms;
• Isolate and culture some disease organisms; 
• Calculate dosages or treatment levels; 
• Proper necropsy techniques;
• Identify major parasite groups;
• Understand the difference between viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens;
• Learn about general fish anatomy;
• Learn how to do basic fish health sampling;
• Understand basic microscope techniques to observe fish pathogens;
• Properly care for and package moribund or dead fish as specimens for shipment to diagnostic laboratories; and 
• Describe the causes and effects of fish diseases. 

Target Audience

Fisheries biologists, hatchery managers, hatchery biologists, hatchery technicians, fish health biologists, and wildlife biologists interested in fish health techniques.