Ruth Francis-Floyd

Department of Fisheries
and Aquatic Sciences

Ruth Francis-Floyd, DVM, MS, DACZM

Professor
and Director of Aquatic Animal Health Program

Diplomate, American College of Zoological Medicine, 1998

M.S., Veterinary Medical Science, 1985
Mississippi State University

D.V.M., 1983
University of Florida

B.A., Biology, 1979
St. Olaf College

More Photos Below

Ruth Francis-Floyd is a veterinary specialist in aquatic animal medicine. She has a joint appointment with FAS and the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and is the Director of the Aquatic Animal Health Program.

Following completion of graduate school, Francis-Floyd worked in the channel catfish industry conducting research on Edwardsiella ictaluri, an important bacterial disease, at the Delta Branch Experiment Station in Stoneville, Mississippi.

She has been with the University of Florida since 1987 and is an extension veterinarian for aquaculture. Her responsibilities include research and extension on health related issues for the ornamental fish industry, as well as coordination of diagnostic support services for aquaculture industries in the state. She also works closely with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission on health concerns of Florida's freshwater sportfish.

Interests: Most of my professional life has been spent working in aquaculture and fish medicine. I have a strong interest in preventive health care for fish with emphasis on water quality and nutritional management, and a special interest in reef fish, particularly Acanthurids (surgeonfish). My educational philosophy is one of inclusion. I believe that the practice of aquatic medicine is truly interdisciplinary, requiring a mixture of medical science, biology, life support/ engineering, and good old-fashioned animal husbandry, to be done well. This approach is emphasized in our Aquatic Medical Education short courses.

Courses

FAS 5225C Diseases of Warmwater Fish 3 credits
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Intensive, 2-week course (80 contact hours) in methodology of diagnosis and treatment of parasitic, bacterial, viral , nutritional, and environmental diseases of warmwater food fish and aquarium species. Offered summer term.

Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
and Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
P.O. Box 100136
Gainesville, FL 32610-0136

Francis-FloydR@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu

352-392-4700, x5638
352-538-0606 (cell)

Short CV for Dr. Francis-floyd (pdf)

Aquatic Medical Education Short Course: Web Site

Selected Publications

Harr, K, Harvey, J, Bonde, R, Murphy, D, Lowe, M, Menchaca, M, Haubold, E. Francis-Floyd, R. 2006. Comparison of methods used to diagnose Generalized Inflammatory Disease in Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 37:151-159.

Royes, J.A., Murie, D.J., Francis-Floyd, R. 2006. Effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance and hepatocye changes in juvenile African cichlids. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 37(1):48-59.

Royes, J.B., Murie, D.J., Francis-Floyd, R. 2005. Optimum dietary protein level for growth and protein efficiency without hepatocyte changes in juvenile African cichlids, Psuedotropheus socolofi. North American Journal of Aquaculture 67:102-110.

Yanong, R.P.Y., Curtis, E., Russo, R., Francis-Floyd, R., Klinger, R., Berzins, I., Kelley, K., Poynton, S.L. 2004. Cryptobia iubilans infectiion in juvenile discus. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 224:1644-1650.

Klinger, R., Francis-Floyd, R., Riggs, A., Reed, P. 2003. Use of blood culture as a nonlethal method for isolating bacteria from fish Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34(2):206-207.

Flemming, G.J., Heard, D.J., Francis-Floyd, R., Riggs, A. 2003. Evaluation of propofol and medetomidine/ketamine for short-term immobilization of Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhinchus de soti). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34(2):

Grizzle, J.M., Altinok, I., Fraser, W.A., Francis-Floyd, R. 2002. First isolation of largemouth bass virus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 50:233-235.

Yanong, R., Framcis-Floyd, R., Curtis, E., Klinger, R., Cichra, M., Berzins, I. 2002. Algal dermatitis in African Cichlids. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 220:1353-1358.

Klinger, R. C., R. Francis-Floyd, V. S. Blazer and C. Huckins. 2001. Evidence for nutritional disease in a Lake Victoria cichlid, Haplochromis (Prognathochromis) perriere (Pellegrin): a clinical assessment. J. Aquariculture and Aquatic Sciences, Cichlid Research: State of the Art. Vol. IX: 229-236 PDF

Tilghman, G.C, R. Klinger-Bowen and R. Francis-Floyd. 2001. Feeding electivity indices in surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) of the Florida Keys. Aquarium Sciences and Conservation 3:215-223. PDF

	Ruth Ellen Klinger-Bowen (left), a research biologist looks at a cichlid tissue section for disease identification as research assistant (and grad student) Chris Tilghman prepares yet another bacterial culture. Both individuals work with Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd in her Gainesville fish health laboratory.
	Freshwater angelfish have been raised on aquaculture farms in Florida for over 50 years. Dr. Francis-Floyd has worked closely with the tropical fish industry to enhance management and production of a healthier aquarium fish.
	African cichlids, a diverse and colorful group, make popular pets in the aquarium trade. Many species are captive bred in Florida and the farmers rely on Dr. Francis-Floyd's expertise for health and nutritional management of their "crop".
	Recent projects by Dr. Francis-include studies of marine fish health. She has a Sea Grant-funded project to study Atlantic blue tangs and three other Atlantic tang species. She and graduate student Chris Tilghman will examine fish dietary habits to gain insight into the nutritional disorders on those fish kept on display in major aquariums.

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