Dog-Killing Worms Found In The United States
Dog owners should be aware that an invasive dog-killing worm has recently been identified in the waters of the Colorado River in Southern California. The Colorado River supplies roughly a third of all water for Southern California cities and suburbs and provides a gorgeous outdoor and hiking experience along its shores.
Life Cycle Of The Flat Worm
Unfortunately, scientists say that Heterobilharzia Americana (a dog-killing worm) has been found in and around the waters of the Colorado River, raising a dangerous red flag for dog owners in the area. Though the parasite is not known to pose any danger to humans, it is a threat to your pets and other wildlife living and visiting areas along the river.
Liver Fluke
The dog-killing worm, Heterobilharzia Americana, is also known as Liver Fluke. The parasite typically finds a snail host, which will carry and release the parasite larvae into a nearby freshwater source.
Then, when an animal takes a dip in the water, the dog-killing worm larvae find their definitive host and burrow into the animal through the skin. They first find their way to the lungs, then the liver, and then the blood vessels along the intestinal lining.
How The Infection Spreads
From there, the dog-killing worm larvae will mature into adults, mate with other adults, and lay new eggs that the infected pup will poop out. The poop is meant to then infect new snails and start the cycle all over again. Most of the time, raccoons are the main victim of the parasite, but dogs, horses, and other mammals are also susceptible to infection.
Canine Schistosomiasis
An infection of the dog-killing worm H. Americana causes a disease known as canine schistosomiasis (say that five times fast). The dog’s health isn’t usually affected by the initial parasite invasion, but the next generation of eggs that they lay can make their way into the animal’s bloodstream and invade vital organs.
The parasite’s infection triggers inflammation in the body and causes granulomas (white blood cell clusters that can damage blood vessels and other organs) to form. Without proper treatment, the invasion of the dog-killing worm can lead to organ failure and death.
Moving Around The United States
To date, most cases of H. Americana infection have been found in Texas (in and along the waters of the Gulf Coast), but there have now been 11 cases identified in the waters along the Southern California portion of the Colorado River. The best way to keep your dog safe from the dog-killing worm is to restrict their access to wading or swimming in those areas.
Signs Of Infection
Your dog’s regular heartworm medicine or flea prevention regimen will not protect your pet from the parasite. Signs of an infection include general lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. If the dog-killing worm is caught soon enough, veterinary treatment can help your dog escape a grim fate.
While other types of worms can cause schistosomiasis in humans, H. Americana has only been proven to cause a mild skin rash for most people. If your dog becomes infected, it can’t be spread from dog to dog or from dog to human, so focus your worries on getting your sick pup well.
