02-03-2009, 06:00 AM
Is there anyway to simplify all this?
I'll take a shot, but recommend a more in-depth understanding than this...
What is it (in 25 words or less)
Disease from trauma of larvae burrowing around in nerve tissue trying to find a place they are happy, failing, and dying inside us.
Where is it
Apparently mainly in unwashed or incompletely scrubbed raw veggies (as in deep folds of peppers or the hearts of lettuce) and perhaps in fruit (papaya, figs) reached by little climbing slugs, as well as in dogfood bowls and water bowls slugs drown in. Water catchment tanks into which slugs have washed and drowned may also be a problem.
Vector(s) to humans
Any terrestrial or freshwater invertebrate (slug, snail, prawn, earthworm, etc) which has munched infected rat pooh can potentially pass it to humans (and to dogs, horses, parrots, etc) if eaten raw or if drowned in freshwater (releasing larvae into drinking water).
How to avoid
*Avoid ingesting vectors raw and untreated or uninspected.
*Treat and inspect raw veggies and fruits before consumption (as via scrubbing, soaking in distilled water or salt brine, and rinsing).
*Cooking or boiling kills the infective agent (as in prawns).
*Exert maximum effort to kill all rats in the area; maintain active defenses to reduce the overall rat population.
*Use raised beds with slug barriers; eliminate cover for slugs around gardens (sunlight and drying out are the best defense against slugs, along with perhaps Guinea fowl, ducks, or chickens).
*Cut overhanging vegetation (especially fruit trees) away from roofs connected to water catchment tanks, install filter plates to keep slugs from washing into tanks and drowning there, install a 20-micron (minimum) filter and UV sterilizer between the tank and taps.
*Do not leave pet food bowls out overnight where slugs can get into them.
Symptoms to look for if "infected"
Variable, since the symptoms can be either directly from trauma to different tissues (depending on where the larvae are burrowing around in the body) or from massive immune/inflammatory reactions. Headache, cranial nerve weakness, double vision, pain, and (especially as observed in dogs and other animals) poor motor control.
What to do if diagnosed with it
It is important to seek a diagnosis because the problem may not actually be angiostrongylosis (rat lungworm disease) and even if it is the documentation of incidence is vitally important to understanding and stopping the spread of the disease.
I am not qualified to reply to respond to this question but can pass along the answer given by a medical doctor who has decades of experience treating the disease: "...trying to alleviate the symptoms is about the best we can do at this point (despite the numerous case reports of steroids making a difference: they're all anecdotal, based on odd cases where the patient improved after being given steroids, but what you're not hearing about is the many more who didn't, or got worse, with steroids; their cases don't get published)."
Clearly, the emphasis in this disease is perforce on prevention since not a whole lot can be done after the fact of infection.
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
A pleasant slideshow: http://www.thejoymovie.com
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
I'll take a shot, but recommend a more in-depth understanding than this...
What is it (in 25 words or less)
Disease from trauma of larvae burrowing around in nerve tissue trying to find a place they are happy, failing, and dying inside us.
Where is it
Apparently mainly in unwashed or incompletely scrubbed raw veggies (as in deep folds of peppers or the hearts of lettuce) and perhaps in fruit (papaya, figs) reached by little climbing slugs, as well as in dogfood bowls and water bowls slugs drown in. Water catchment tanks into which slugs have washed and drowned may also be a problem.
Vector(s) to humans
Any terrestrial or freshwater invertebrate (slug, snail, prawn, earthworm, etc) which has munched infected rat pooh can potentially pass it to humans (and to dogs, horses, parrots, etc) if eaten raw or if drowned in freshwater (releasing larvae into drinking water).
How to avoid
*Avoid ingesting vectors raw and untreated or uninspected.
*Treat and inspect raw veggies and fruits before consumption (as via scrubbing, soaking in distilled water or salt brine, and rinsing).
*Cooking or boiling kills the infective agent (as in prawns).
*Exert maximum effort to kill all rats in the area; maintain active defenses to reduce the overall rat population.
*Use raised beds with slug barriers; eliminate cover for slugs around gardens (sunlight and drying out are the best defense against slugs, along with perhaps Guinea fowl, ducks, or chickens).
*Cut overhanging vegetation (especially fruit trees) away from roofs connected to water catchment tanks, install filter plates to keep slugs from washing into tanks and drowning there, install a 20-micron (minimum) filter and UV sterilizer between the tank and taps.
*Do not leave pet food bowls out overnight where slugs can get into them.
Symptoms to look for if "infected"
Variable, since the symptoms can be either directly from trauma to different tissues (depending on where the larvae are burrowing around in the body) or from massive immune/inflammatory reactions. Headache, cranial nerve weakness, double vision, pain, and (especially as observed in dogs and other animals) poor motor control.
What to do if diagnosed with it
It is important to seek a diagnosis because the problem may not actually be angiostrongylosis (rat lungworm disease) and even if it is the documentation of incidence is vitally important to understanding and stopping the spread of the disease.
I am not qualified to reply to respond to this question but can pass along the answer given by a medical doctor who has decades of experience treating the disease: "...trying to alleviate the symptoms is about the best we can do at this point (despite the numerous case reports of steroids making a difference: they're all anecdotal, based on odd cases where the patient improved after being given steroids, but what you're not hearing about is the many more who didn't, or got worse, with steroids; their cases don't get published)."
Clearly, the emphasis in this disease is perforce on prevention since not a whole lot can be done after the fact of infection.
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
A pleasant slideshow: http://www.thejoymovie.com
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(