1. Service Units
  2. Research Integrity & Compliance
  3. Animal Research
  4. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
  5. Occupational Health and Safety
  6. Risk Assessment
  7. Hazard Assessment: Fish, Reptiles, and Amphibians
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Hazard Assessment: Fish, Reptiles, and Amphibians

Animals included in this risk assessment group:amphibian

  • Snakes
  • Frogs
  • Fish
  • Axolotls

Your Potential Risks:

Based on the species you are working with, you should be aware of the following potential health risks:

Special Note on Aquatic Pathogens:

Other than through food poisonings, there are relatively few infectious agents that you can catch directly from fish.  There are, however, a number of agents that are common in pond water.  If you work with pond water, water that is stagnant, or contains a large amount of organic material, you should wash your hands and arms thoroughly after contact with the water.  If you spend a lot of time in the water, you should wear sturdy, impervious gloves.  If you develop a rash or other lesion on your arms or hands, report your exposure to this type of water to Employee Health Service (860-679-2893).