🦠 A Dog-killing Parasite Has Been Discovered in the US

A lethal parasite has been discovered in US for the first time.

Be careful, outdoor adventurers! For the first time, scientists have confirmed the presence of a potentially fatal dog parasite, “liver fluke”, in a section of the Colorado River that traverses California.

This revelation from scientists at UC Riverside has prompted urgent calls for public awareness due to the serious health risk it poses to pets.

Wait. What is this?!

Heterobilharzia americana, a flatworm commonly known as liver fluke, is the cause of canine schistosomiasis, a disease affecting dogs’ livers and intestines, which, if left untreated, can lead to death.

“Dogs can die from this infection, so we are hoping to raise public awareness that it’s there,” said UCR nematology professor Adler Dillman. “If you’re swimming in the Colorado River with them, your pets are in peril.”

Is the parasite widespread?

The discovery followed reports of local dogs showing signs of infection after swimming in the river near Blythe, a border town east of Joshua Tree National Park. In response, Professor Dillman and his team conducted extensive fieldwork, collecting over 2,000 snails from the riverbanks. Two specific snail species act as the hosts for liver fluke.

“We actually found two species of snails that can support H. americana in the river in Blythe, and we found both snails actively shedding this worm,” Dillman revealed. “Not only was it a surprise to find H. americana, but we also did not know that the snails were present here.”

Ok, so… it starts with snails?

The lifecycle of H. americana is complex, with the worm requiring a snail host before it can infect a mammal. After transforming within the snail, it seeks a new host, such as a dog or a raccoon, to infect.

The parasite’s journey doesn’t end with infection. It continues to develop within the host, leading to severe organ damage due to the immune system’s response.

I live in California. Our public water stems from the Colorado River. Is it safe?

While H. americana poses a significant threat to dogs, it is not capable of causing disease in humans, though it may cause swimmer’s itch — a red rash resulting from skin penetration.

Professor Dillman also sought to reassure the public regarding the safety of urban drinking water, noting the parasite’s size makes it easily filterable by standard purification methods. However, he cautioned against consuming untreated river water due to the presence of other pathogens.

My dog just got done swimming in a river. What should I do?

As of now, it’s only been traced back to the Colorado River.

If your dog has these symptoms after swimming in the Colorado River, it’s a good precaution to ask your veterinarian for a simple fecal test,” advised Emily Beeler, a veterinarian with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Here are the symptoms:

• Loss of appetite

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Profound weight loss

• Signs of liver disease

“It gets into the veins of the intestinal lining, and that’s where it develops into an adult and mates. The presence of the adults in the veins isn’t the problem,” Dillman said.

“It’s the eggs that get into the lungs, spleen, liver, and heart. The immune system tries to deal with it, and hard clusters of immune cells called granulomas form. Eventually the organ tissues stop functioning,” he concluded.

Why am I getting Wuhan vibes?

This is far from pandemic levels; however, vigilance is key. We already experienced how quickly a mystery illness can spread amongst the canine community, so avoiding public waterways and monitoring your pet’s outdoor activity is the best course of action for now.

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_davidstv1

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