Katharina Buczek
Following the initial infection, it can take several months for the most severe symptoms to manifest. Since 2019, the disease has been diagnosed in 11 dogs across three different counties in California, resulting in one fatality.
Now, health authorities are optimistic that raising awareness in the local community will aid in preventing additional infections and fatalities.
According to Emily Beeler, a veterinarian at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the onset of symptoms is initially subtle– beginning with a loss of appetite and progressively including vomiting, diarrhea, significant weight loss, and indicators of liver disease.
“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. Treatment typically involves the use of multiple medications and close monitoring of the dog by a veterinarian,” Beeler said.
It’s important to highlight that H. americana cannot infect humans with disease. While it can lead to swimmer’s itch, characterized by a red rash where it enters through the skin, it cannot infect humans.
Additionally, Dillman wants to alleviate worries about the parasite contaminating urban drinking water. He claimed that these worms are relatively large compared to other pathogens, making it easy to remove them through standard water purification methods.
However, despite there being no significant concern about water source contamination, it’s still not recommended to drink the water directly.
“You have viruses, bacteria, and other parasites such as Giardia in rivers. Nobody should be drinking straight out of the river, and that has nothing to do with this particular parasite,” Dillman concluded.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Pathogens, visit the link here.
