The Meningeal Worm
Infestation of up to 20 meningeal worms has been discovered in a single deer’s subdural cavity. The white tail deer is the preferred host, but they rarely ever suffer from any sickly or neurological problems from this type of worm. We will see severe signs in llamas and alpacas; these are the two animals that can become infected with it frequently. The meningeal worm can cause damage to the central nervous system and could result in death so it is important to try and catch it early and learn about how to prevent this deadly worm. Things that you should be familiar with about the meningeal worm are its life cycle, the signs in your animal, and any prevention or treatment options.
The meningeal worm is also known as the brain worm, or the deer worm. It frequently infects llamas and alpacas, but can infect other species as well like moose, elk, goats, and sheep. The meningeal worm is an internal parasite that is a part of the protostrongylidae family with the definitive host being the common white tailed deer. Even though they are the host, adult meningeal worms rarely cause clinical signs of disease in the deer. The white tail deer’s tolerance to infection from these worms is actually beneficial to the parasite because the white tail deer are the only species that will allow the worm to complete their life cycle. So alpacas and llamas are unsuitable hosts and that is why the meningeal worm is such a threat to them. It can cause varying degrees of damage to their central nervous system. “The cerebrospinal fluid tap is especially useful for diagnosing meningeal worm and ruling out other diseases.” (Whitehead, Bedenice 2009.) Ruling out other diseases helps to narrow down what could be ...
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...dewormer called avermectin that should be given monthly if you decide that the meningeal worm could be a problem in your pasture.
References
1. Whitehead, C. E., & Bedenice, D. (2009). Neurologic Diseases in Llamas and Alpacas. Veterinary Clinics Of North America: Food Animal Practice, 25(Alpaca and Llama Health Management), 385-405. doi:10.1016/j.cvfa.2009.02.004
2. Powers, J. (2008). Brain Worms: No Big Deal for White-Tails. http://outdooralabama.com/hunting/hunterresources/articles/brainworms.cfm
3. Smith, M. (2012, October 27). Dealing with Deer Worm. http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/goats/CSGSymposium/deer-worm_revised.pdf
4. Anderson, D. (2013, march 21). “Brain Worms” (Meningeal Worm) Infestation in Llamas and Alpacas. http://www.vet.utk.edu/news/story/brain-worm-(meningeal-worm)-infestation-in-llamas-and-alpacas.html
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neuro-degenerative, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of the family Cervidae (Hamir, et.al., 2006). The family Cervidae includes mule deer, Odocolileus hemionus, white-tailed deer, Odocolileus virginianus, Rocky Mountain elk, Cervus elaphus nelsoni, and moose, Alces alces shirasi, among others (Sigurdon & Aguzzi, 2007). CWD is a prion disease, meaning it is a protein caused infection, that occurs naturally in the deer family (Song & Lawson, 2009). This protein is suspected to be an abnormal isoform (PrPSc) of the naturally occurring host prion protein (PrPC) (Blanchong, et. Al., 2009). Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), mad cow disease, is a similar prion effecting cattle as CWD affects Cervidae. Although, scientists are not sure of transmission route it is suspected that CWD is transmissible and infectious through direct contact with infected individuals or through environmental contamination (Song & Lawson, 2009). Tests have been performed showing susceptibility of altered mice to oral transmission, mimicking the suspected route of entry, and the incubation appears slower but lasts longer with oral infection (Trifilo, et.al., 2007). The approximate time from the initial infection to death is three years.
Normally, cows in Northern Europe in places such as Denmark live normal lives simply grazing on grass, and existing. However, there have been recent changes that have disrupted this normal activity. Generally the bluetongue virus (spread by Culicoides imicola, a biting midge) has been confined to Southern Europe and other places around the Mediterranean. But with the increase in temperature throughout the area, the midge has been allowed to migrate northward. This new pest is a nuisance and causes lots of difficulties to farmers in the area. When a cow contracts this disease, they usually also receive oral ulcers, salivation, stiffness, fever and eventually the inevitable- death (Merck Veterinary Manual NP). Because of the increase in temperature, midges have spread around the globe infecting livestock and creating terrible trouble for many farmers.
Dogs infected with Canine Heartworm Disease can have from 1 to 250 worms living in them for 5 to 7 years. The organs us...
Exotic animals carry diseases and infections that can be potentially harmful or fatal to humans, jeopardizing the safety of the community. These diseases range in severity from common ringworm infections from African pygmy hedgehogs to lyssaviruses in p...
The Web. 18 Jan. 2014. Levy, Sharon. A Plague of Deer. BioScience 56.9 (2006): 714–21.
Chronic Wasting Disease is a highly transmissible, deadly neurodegenerative disease that affects cervids in North America (Belay et al., 2004; Saunders et al., 2012). There are only four types of cervid that are known to get this disease which include elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and moose (Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance). It has been classified has a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), otherwise known as a prion disease (Belay et al., 2004). A prion is an irregular, pathogenic agent that causes abnormal folding of specific proteins called prion proteins. These proteins are mostly located in the brain (Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance). The abnormal folding of this protein causes neurodegenerative diseases in a variety of species including humans, sheep, cattle, and deer (Abrams et al., 2011).
This disgusting worm parasite is spread by flies and mosquitoes. The adult worm spreads its larvae throughout the host’s lymphatic system and causes the lymph nodes to become clogged up. This also makes the tissue in the host’s body to swell up and create massive muscle deformations, otherwise known as elephantiasis. The elephantiasis mainly affects the legs and genitals. The disease also affects the eyes but that can be easily detected through close inspection but it commonly causes river blindness in the host. It’s been estimated that the parasite is one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world.
I would like to share some important information about this disease especially if you are an owner or plain to become an owner of a dog.
Biomedical Research | Animal Use Research. N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
Dictyocaulus viviparous is a parasite that affects cattle and deer. The lifecycle does not have an intermediate host. Adult male and female worms reside in the bronchial tree of the lung. Eggs are coughed up and swallowed and hatch as they pass through the intestinal tract. Larval worms on the pasture undergo two molts to reach the infectious L3 stage, which retains its L1 and L2 cuticle as a protective sheath. L3 are ingested by grazing cattle, and parasites molt twice before reaching the lung. Further growth and development are required to become mature, reproductive adults. In the feces, L1 mature to L2 and then to L3 which is the infective stage larvae. The L3 infective stage remains in the feces or the pasture and so when cattle come grazing they ingest the L3. L3 then go through intestinal system and penetrates the intestinal wall. They use the lymphatic system to reach the mesenteric lymph node where they mature to L4 then use d blood supply and lymphatic system to reach the lungs.
Hydrocephalus is a development of cerebrospinal liquid in the head of your pet between the cerebrum and the skull. The liquid does two things; it debilitates the bones of
tubifex to find out if there if a difference from one area to the next. In one sampling survey, they found that there are 4 genetically distinct lineages (Beauchamp, Kelley, Nehring and Hedrick, 2005). They are finding that some of the lineages are more resilient to M. cerebralis infections, while others are more susceptible. The ability of the specific lineage of T. tubifex to resist the M. cerebralis infection may lie in its relationship to man-made structures, the elements in the habitat, and lastly, its own population levels. Studies are being performed to see if it is possible to move resilient strains of worms to areas where there strains while are susceptible to determine if the competition of the worm communities can work out in the favor of those which are not as
The once bountiful North American Moose population in Minnesota is diminishing due to climate change. Because the warming environment is hard on the large animal, moose are moving North and out of Minnesota. The moose that are staying in Minnesota are dying rapidly. “In a recent study of moose at the southern edge of their range in northwest Minnesota, researchers found that over the past 40 years, declines in population growth are related to increases in mean summer temperature with winter and summer temperatures increasing by an average of 12 and 4 degrees F (6.8 and 2.1 degrees C), respectively over this period” ("Global Warming"). The increasing temperatures are not only too warm for moose, but the temperatures are welcoming to parasites such as deer ticks that live on moose.
CAE cannot be spread through other species besides sheep. This disease can only attack other animals in the Caprine family, such as Boer goats, Spanish goats, Dairy goats, Fainting goats, and has also been linked to sheep. Wild ruminants cannot get infected with CAE, but they have found another form of lentivirus in them. This lentivirus is not a concern to domestic goats and sheep at this time.
"Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals." AALAS Foundation. 2005. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. 2012 .