Post by Steve Sutton on Jun 5, 2010 15:01:13 GMT -5
A recent article in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases on tapeworms in wolves has generated a flurry of news stories and heightened public concern. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services’ Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program are working together to answer the public’s questions.
“Tapeworms are nothing new to Montanans, particularly to those that own dogs, but the journal article describes the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in wolves and ungulates in Idaho and Montana and that has caught the public’s attention,” said Ken McDonald, FWP Wildlife Section Chief. The tapeworm, E. granulosus, was documented in Montana in two northwestern Montana wolves back in the late 1980’s. Wolves were not regularly tested in Montana until the past few years. The tapeworm is found almost worldwide.
McDonald said a fact sheet that answers common questions about Echinococcus tapeworms in Montana can be found on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov .
“The most frequently asked questions are what is the human risk of infection by Echinococcus, and how do you avoid infection,” said Jennifer Lowell, Epidemiologist at DPHHS. “Human infection from the wolf-ungulate tapeworm cycle is theoretically possible, but highly unlikely.”
“Humans can avoid infection by taking care not to ingest the eggs of the tapeworm, which are passed in the feces of an infected wolf, coyote or dog,” she said. “A human would need to handle canine scat, or an infected animal with a tapeworm’s eggs on its fur, and then ingest the eggs. This could occur by touching one’s face or eating before a careful hand washing.
“To prevent transmission of Echinococcus tapeworms, avoid contact with canine fecal matter and anything that has been in contact with canine fecal matter,” she said.
Two species of tapeworm exist in Montana wildlife. One, Echinococcus multilocularis, has been documented in coyotes and foxes. The eggs excreted in feces can infect rodents and could infect humans but no human cases have occurred in Montana.
The second, Echinococcus granulosus, is common in North America in two types, a domestic and a wild or northern type. E. granulosus can infect domestic dogs, coyotes or wolves and the parasite’s eggs, excreted in canine feces, can then infect deer, elk, moose and in rare instances a human.
Other tapeworm precautions DPHHS’ Montana Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program recommends include preventing domestic dogs from consuming the carcasses of deer, elk, sheep or other ungulates. E. granulosus may be transmitted to dogs that ingest the organs of infected ungulates. If you are concerned that your pet has consumed the organs of an ungulate, consult a veterinarian about deworming. Humans cannot become infected from ungulates.
“Another common sense precaution is to wash your hands and forearms after handling a canine that consumes ungulate carcasses, and when outdoors avoid disturbing wolf, coyote or fox scat,” Lowell said.
Hunters are familiar with FWP’s advice to wear gloves when field dressing a wild animal, including deer, elk, wolf, coyote or fox carcasses. Anyone handling these carcasses should also wash their hands and forearms thoroughly immediately after.
McDonald said it isn’t known where or when the E. granulosus cited in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases article originated in Montana.
Transplanted wolves from Canada were treated with an anthelmintic drug effective against E. granulosus prior to being released in Montana. Whether that treatment was 100 percent effective is unknown.
“Tapeworms are nothing new to Montanans, particularly to those that own dogs, but the journal article describes the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in wolves and ungulates in Idaho and Montana and that has caught the public’s attention,” said Ken McDonald, FWP Wildlife Section Chief. The tapeworm, E. granulosus, was documented in Montana in two northwestern Montana wolves back in the late 1980’s. Wolves were not regularly tested in Montana until the past few years. The tapeworm is found almost worldwide.
McDonald said a fact sheet that answers common questions about Echinococcus tapeworms in Montana can be found on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov .
“The most frequently asked questions are what is the human risk of infection by Echinococcus, and how do you avoid infection,” said Jennifer Lowell, Epidemiologist at DPHHS. “Human infection from the wolf-ungulate tapeworm cycle is theoretically possible, but highly unlikely.”
“Humans can avoid infection by taking care not to ingest the eggs of the tapeworm, which are passed in the feces of an infected wolf, coyote or dog,” she said. “A human would need to handle canine scat, or an infected animal with a tapeworm’s eggs on its fur, and then ingest the eggs. This could occur by touching one’s face or eating before a careful hand washing.
“To prevent transmission of Echinococcus tapeworms, avoid contact with canine fecal matter and anything that has been in contact with canine fecal matter,” she said.
Two species of tapeworm exist in Montana wildlife. One, Echinococcus multilocularis, has been documented in coyotes and foxes. The eggs excreted in feces can infect rodents and could infect humans but no human cases have occurred in Montana.
The second, Echinococcus granulosus, is common in North America in two types, a domestic and a wild or northern type. E. granulosus can infect domestic dogs, coyotes or wolves and the parasite’s eggs, excreted in canine feces, can then infect deer, elk, moose and in rare instances a human.
Other tapeworm precautions DPHHS’ Montana Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program recommends include preventing domestic dogs from consuming the carcasses of deer, elk, sheep or other ungulates. E. granulosus may be transmitted to dogs that ingest the organs of infected ungulates. If you are concerned that your pet has consumed the organs of an ungulate, consult a veterinarian about deworming. Humans cannot become infected from ungulates.
“Another common sense precaution is to wash your hands and forearms after handling a canine that consumes ungulate carcasses, and when outdoors avoid disturbing wolf, coyote or fox scat,” Lowell said.
Hunters are familiar with FWP’s advice to wear gloves when field dressing a wild animal, including deer, elk, wolf, coyote or fox carcasses. Anyone handling these carcasses should also wash their hands and forearms thoroughly immediately after.
McDonald said it isn’t known where or when the E. granulosus cited in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases article originated in Montana.
Transplanted wolves from Canada were treated with an anthelmintic drug effective against E. granulosus prior to being released in Montana. Whether that treatment was 100 percent effective is unknown.