Experts are warning dog owners about a deadly parasite first discovered in Southern California’s Colorado River.
Scientists at the University of California, Riverside confirmed last week that this is the first time Heterobilharzia americana, a flatworm commonly called the liver fluke, has been discovered in the far west.
“Dogs can die from this infection, so we want to increase public awareness that this infection exists,” said UCR Professor of Nematology Adler Dillman. He said this in a university interview. newspaper. “Your pet is at risk if you swim in the Colorado River with them.”
This worm lives in snails and can cause canine schistosomiasis, a disease that affects the liver and intestines of dogs. Previously, it had only been found in Texas and other Gulf states, UCR scientists said.
The flatworm H. americana and its vector, the snail, in one of its life stages. (Adler Dillman/UCR)
After hearing that several dogs in California had been infected, Dillman and a team of university researchers headed to the river. Scientists said they collected 2,000 snails from the banks of waterways and tested them, and “found them to be more widely distributed.” [of the parasite] than previously reported. ”
“Our findings have implications for public health, veterinary medicine and biodiversity conservation, and contribute to the development of effective control strategies to prevent the spread of this emerging infectious disease,” the researchers said. Ta.
Relative sizes of H. americana host snails. (Adler Dillman/UCR)
“Symptoms begin gradually with loss of appetite and eventually include vomiting, diarrhea, significant weight loss, and signs of liver disease,” said Emily Beeler, a veterinarian with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Beeler encourages pet owners to take their dogs to a veterinarian for observation and treatment if they develop symptoms.
Dillman added that the parasite does not pose a significant health threat to humans.
