Rat lungworm has a ground zero, Puna.

[DTisme]

Ok, so are the nematodes in rat poop or not? I swear I had read yes (but can't find!) but it appears here, no.

[MarkP]

Yes they are in rat poop but there are several stages of development. The ones that are in rat poop are infectious to slugs not people. The ones that are in slugs are infectious to rats and people and other mammals although they don't seem to find what they are looking for in people like they do in rats, not that that helps us any since they still move around in us,causing damage and inflammation.

[Guest]

Thanks all for your thoughts, opinions and experiences on this Rat Lungworm issue. This video helps show how the Rat lungworm parasite can move once one is infected.

http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/mon...-lungworm/

Another video worth watching here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ul1QjBYxQU

This may be worth reading. This happened a few years ago, The man lived in Pahoa and became infected with Rat Lungworm here in Puna.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/articl...90350.html

No blood test taken here in Puna can show the Rat Lungworm infection until your body has reacted to the infection within your blood stream. This usually takes two-three weeks of being next to dead or left in a coma with some kind of organ failure.
A spinal tap will confirm the Rat Lungworm infection but that comes with risks too. If you are diagnosed with the Rat Lungworm then you are able to get some steroids that also come with risks, especially for our keiki and elderly. Most Rat Lungworm cases in our area are probably going undetected because most people get better within the 2-3 week sick period. Most also if really sick usually have their blood drawn prior to the bodies response time to the infection so those tests would come back negative day's later anyway. Most, if they are lucky get a week in bed with a 104 degree temp, Their told by their respective doctor's that it must have been an unknown virus because the flu and blood tests came back negative. The truth may be that The damage has already been done and the Rat Lungworm Parasites have died on their own as you are not a natural host. jmo.

[hotinhawaii]

Gypsy,
The man in the article, Graham McCumber, is the friend I referred to earlier. His mother is involved in research into rat lungworm at UH and is helping to spearhead legislation for research funding right now in the State House.

[Kenney]

While "swiftering" under the chest freezer the other day, I was shocked to see a semi slug (alive) on my mop. Gross.
As instructed by Dr. Jarvi, picked him up with (disposable) chopsticks, into a jar of salt water, and bleached the bejesus out of the floor.
What amazes me is how did it get in. Screen door has flap to the floor to prevent such intrusions.
Bad enough outside. The last thing we want is slime in the house.

[DTisme]

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkP

Yes they are in rat poop but there are several stages of development. The ones that are in rat poop are infectious to slugs not people. The ones that are in slugs are infectious to rats and people and other mammals although they don't seem to find what they are looking for in people like they do in rats, not that that helps us any since they still move around in us,causing damage and inflammation.

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Mahalo!

[rrlovesbi]

My relatives in Mexico use an iodine solution to soak fruits and vegetables (Microdyn), which we have also been using on our fruit and vegetables before eating. Is there any research on iodine be effective for Rat Lungworm?

[glassnumbers]

There's been no research that I know of on iodine. Also, logically, it seems like the way to go is to get unripe fruit, soak it in very salty water to kill any snails. Set it aside for awhile, so if there IS any nematode parasites on it, they have time to die. The only problem is it apparently takes a week for them to croak according to hotinhawaii??? So.....I guess you'd have to get VERY unripe fruit. Maybe you could only wait like 4-5 days, and by that time they are too weak to do any damage.

Also, uh, is there any study on if the parasites actually burrow -into- fruit, or if peeling is an effective deterrent? Like, I'd be pretty surprised if those parasites burrow through the entire banana peel.

Oh, and I hate to say this, but it's probably better to buy your fruits and vegetables outside of Puna, since it IS the number one place for the parasite, and due to the precipitation the area receives and the number of trees in the area, a breeding ground for an infinite army of slugs. I think if you did those three things, bought produce in safer areas of the island, soaked it in saltwater to kill off any baby slugs of doom, let it sit for several days, and then you peeled it, you should be fine.
Aloha

[Durian Fiend]

quote:

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Originally posted by glassnumbers

There's been no research that I know of on iodine. Also, logically, it seems like the way to go is to get unripe fruit, soak it in very salty water to kill any snails.

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Fruit is easy to inspect. Unless you're eating the skin, just inspecting and perhaps rinsing with water should suffice.
Studies have shown that rinsing produce with various concoctions is no more effective than rinsing with plain water.

With greens, inspecting and rinsing isn't quite so easy.

[Eric1600]

It is not known if the worms can survive in the snail trails or can be transmitted that way. There is a strong likelihood that they can be left behind by slugs. However it is known that the worms can't live longer than 72 hours in water. It is also not known what is the most effective way of cleaning produce.