Nasty parasitic worm, common in wildlife, now infecting U.S. cats

[n2doc]

THACA, N.Y. — When Cornell University veterinarians found half-foot-long worms living in their feline patients, they had discovered something new: The worms, Dracunculus insignis, had never before been seen in cats.

“First Report of Dracunculus Insignis in Two Naturally Infected Cats from the Northeastern USA,” published in the February issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, documents the first proof that this raccoon parasite can infect cats.

The worms can grow to almost a foot long and must emerge from its host to lay eggs that hatch into larvae. It forms a blister-like protrusion in an extremity, such as a leg, from which it slowly emerges over the course of days to deposit its young into the water.

Worms in the Dracunculus genus are well known in human medicine. D. insignis’ sister worm, the waterborne Guinea worm, infected millions of humans around the world until eradication efforts beginning in the 1980s removed it from all but four countries – with only 148 cases reported in 2013. Other Dracunculus worms infect a host of other mammals – but Dranunculus insignis mainly infects raccoons and other wild mammals and, in rare cases, dogs. It does not infect humans.

The cats that contracted the Dranunculus insignis worms likely ingested the parasites by drinking unfiltered water or by hunting frogs,” said Araceli Lucio-Forster, a Cornell veterinary researcher and the paper’s lead author.

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http://mediarelations.cornell.edu/2014/02/27/nasty-parasitic-worm-common-in-wildlife-now-infecting-u-s-cats/

[dembotoz]

1. house cats should be house cats

[Stargazer09]

2. No kidding

There are too many dangers out there to allow them to wander outside. Aside from rare parasitic worms (yuck!), there are cars and stray cats carrying other diseases.

[Cleita]

5. Unfortunately, many cats don't get the message

like mine. I had to let him out or he wouldn't stop attacking my husband, who was on dialysis, or me. The vet said either let him out or put him down. He's has his share of problems from outdoors but he lived to be thirteen in coyote country.

[Skittles]

16. OMG I have a cat like that

I caught him in a feral trap when he was an injured, half-grown kitty. He just cannot stand being cooped up and constantly plots his escape. He also behaves very badly if not allowed to go ever outside. He has all his shots, is microchipped and wears a breakaway collar & tags that are audible to birds. He is always home if I am away or asleep. Been like this for seven years now.

[Cleita]

21. We don't know this guys dad. I get the feeling it was one of the wild

feral cats and he has the genes.

[Skittles]

24. the guy who looks after Riff Raff when I am out of town

twice when I have returned his hand was bandaged - I have warned him, do NOT do the "run your hand under a blanket" thing with Riff Raff - he was a feral - is STILL half-feral, and will SHRED your hand

[Cleita]

25. Riff Raff is his name? How cute. eom

[Stargazer09]

18. Oh, I know not all cats are easily domesticated

I'm biased due to my own experiences, like finding one of our pet cats dead after being poisoned by a neighbor, and having another one run over by a car.

[Cleita]

20. That's terrible that happened to you.

I have try to make my cats indoor cats and in the past and when we were traveling in an RV, our cats were trained to walk on a leash so they could get some outdoors without running away, but this present kitty is just something else. When I go to the Vets, they get their hazmat suits on.

[bvar22]

15. LIke all the critters around here, our cats are Working Cats.

They earn their keep suppressing the rodent population in our cabin, out buildings, chicken coop, and Veggie Garden.
They have been neutered, get their shots,
and yearly visits to The Vet for check ups.

They also double over as House Pets,
and have 24/7 access to the cabin through a Kitty Door.
They have good inside manners, and are very socialized with good working vocabularies.
They are very happy.

The only problem is that sometimes the female (MaggiePie) brings live mice INTO the cabin,
releases them, and then sits back and watches us frantically try to re-capture her gifts.
She clearly believes we are too slow and awkward, and need a LOT of practice if we are going to be able to catch food for ourselves.

[Cleita]

17. People, I know had their kitty bring a live bat into their bedroom through

the kitty door. They had fun trying to catch that at three in the morning.

[Stargazer09]

19. And that's fine

I live in a suburb with lots of vehicle traffic, so my cats don't have the same environment as yours.

[Luminous Animal]

23. I woke up one day to find a poor near naked pigeon in my house.

My cat had frightened nearly all its feathers off.

It was not a good day for any of us and an awful day for the pigeon.

[Bonx]

4. But he likes being outside so much !1!

Well, until he's eaten alive by a coyote.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. That's the best part

[wheniwasincongress]

12. Yep

Fights, disease and infection (often from fights,) wandering off, breeding, cars, people looking for a new pet, people looking to harm an animal... Cats don't need much stimulation, they are perfectly happy inside and will live longer lives.

[wickerwoman]

28. Also being a nuisance to the neighbors.

I had to give up my veggie patch at my last place because my inconsiderate neighbors' cats dug up everything I ever planted. And my whole yard constantly smelled like litter box. They seemed particularly drawn to crapping under windows so the stench drifted into the house as well.

I've always been a cat person, but I would never let my cats roam free unsupervised outside. In addition to being dangerous for the cat, it's rude to your neighbors to foist cat shit cleaning duties off on them.

[Samantha]

30. Coffee grounds deter cats

There are several other natural things that make them leave your plants alone.

Sam

[wickerwoman]

33. I tried everything

and none of it worked.

I planted rue, lavender, curry plant, geranium, garlic, pennyroyal, tansy, spread coffee grounds, cinnamon, citrus peels, nut shells, straw mulch, pinecones, protective screens of twigs and plastic forks, spray repellent, motion sensitive lights combined with shouting and water guns when they're triggered.

The only thing I haven't tried is setting up a "cat area" with a litter box I empty and plants they like because be damned if I'm giving up the garden space and maintaining a litter box for someone else's pets.

At what point is it simply the responsibility of the person who bought the damn cat(s) to clean up after them and keep them out of other peoples' things? Why should almost a third of my garden be given over to unproductive cat deterrant plants and my soil be full of sharp objects that could injure me just because my neighbors are clueless and irresponsible?

[1000words]

3. Worms and parasites freak me out

I was told by an MD that 90% of humans have a considerable parasitic infestation.

Have a nice day!

[yawnmaster]

9. here is one that 30% of 50 year olds have and the percentage goes up with age!

[1000words]

11. Ewwwwww ...

Quite a curious little worm circus going on inside us, eh?

[yawnmaster]

13. Inside and out! that one is possibly on your eyelashes (too small to see).

I find it very interesting.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. "Nasty Parasitic Worm"

... a little redundant, no?

[Skittles]

26. you want I should kick some pleasant parasitic worm ass, Warren DeMontague?

yes INDEED

[Warren DeMontague]

29. I'm still trying to get over that sushi video

if you've spent any time on facebook, you know the one of whence I speak

[Skittles]

31. I do not do facebook

nor do I have any desire to see the video referenced, based solely on your tone

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Yep

exactly.

[hootinholler]

8. And who put a lot of hard work into the Guinea Worm Eradication?

Mr Jimmy Carter.

Yet another thing to respect the man for.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

22. He's a good man.

[Skittles]

27. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

he's holding her little hand!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

34. I know, so gentle and nurturing.

The real deal.

[Skittles]

35. Dubya would have the hand sanitizer ready

remember his performance?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

36. Unfortunately, yes.

Hard to forget those 8 miserable years!

[MO_Moderate]

10. ...in rare cases, dogs.

Thank you for including the important.

[lpbk2713]

14. I was sure this OP was going to be about Limbaugh.

... when I saw "nasty parasitic worm" .