ALEXANDRIA – Officials say a highly contagious bacterial infection called Columnaris disease killed 600 fish at the Alexandria Zoo. The Town Talk reports the spread of the disease likely was caused by the summer heat. Most fish are susceptible to the disease, and they are more likely to get it after they have experienced some type of environmental stress and when the water rises. Zoo keepers discovered the problem Aug. 6. Dozens of fish had already been affected, and within 48 hours the zoo had lost all of its koi and carp population, roughly 600 fish. ___ Information from: Alexandria Daily Town Talk, http://www.thetowntalk.com  
 
 
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