Rat lungworm scare- the history and outcome?

[taropatch]

A-Steven, rat control falls under the Vector Control Branch of the Dept. of Health. When I contracted leptospirosis in 2004, they contacted me, interviewed me and set rodent traps on properties where I had worked. Trapped rodents were then brushed for fleas and dissected, where various organs are extracted for testing. I do not know if they follow similar procedures for RLD but I do know that the branch has been hit hard by budget cuts. If rat control should have been discussed, that lady from the department could have easily touched on it or if her alloted time did not allow it, at least given handouts.

http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/v...index.html

[DoryGray]

Thank you Steven for your comprehensive report.
One statistic that was interesting to me was the prevalence of this emerging disease. 10 confirmed cases in Puna in 2010, 116 in the US, 1340 in Thailand (eating raw snails is a delicacy there) and over 3000 worldwide.

The presenters would not comment on washing produce in Hydrogen Peroxide, Salt water, or any other solution. When I questioned them I was told someone was soaking their kale in HP & putting it directly in a commercial blender for smoothies & 1 case of RLD was traced to that infection. Also I thought I was safe buying Hamakua Kale (as suggested by the Island Natch produce clerk) & I was told there was 1 case of RLD in Hamakua & 1 case in Kona. Scary stuff. The Semi Slug, which reportedly has the most worms has neonates that are less than a 1/4" long & are clear - no color. Very hard to pick through curly kale or lettuce to discover something that small. Putting produce in the refrigerator is no guarantee either. Rob Hollingsworth, entomologist, said that copper wire/banding around gardens works sometimes to keep slugs away; but not always. The seminar was a strong reminder to do everything one can to prevent infection, as treatment is limited & Eosinophilic Meningitis, coma & death can be the consequence.

[dayna]

quote:

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Originally posted by AlohaSteven

dayna, a medical doctor and a veterinary scientist in Australia have both told me they see incidence of RLD go way up in pets every rainy season. They suspect this is because food dishes and maybe water dishes are left out overnight attract and/or trap slugs such that the pets (dogs, mainly) ingest them and come to grief. The circulatory system of chickens (and perhaps ducks) appears to be configured in such a way that L3 are filtered from reaching the brain or somehow otherwise deterred from entering neural tissues. There have, however, been several documented instances of rat lungworm disease morbidity & mortality in various species of parrot. This suggests food bowls and fruit for parrots probably best not be left out overnight (slugs are nocturnal). My experience in Puna (I am owned by three parrots) is that one needs to run a very tight ship with regard to food bowls and keeping cage areas tidy irrespective of RLD because ants and cockroaches --in their thousands-- will zero in immediately on any mess. If I recall correctly then some links were posted earlier in either this discussion thread or related Punaweb discussion threads which connect to those RLD-in-parrots journal articles.


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MSP's wingsuit segment from "Seven Sunny Days"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0tU3Hy7et8&feature=related

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We plan on having out door flights, and I think we'd have to bring food/water in nightly just due to the vermin (like you said) so I'm hoping that the RLD, the Avian Maleria, and the wildlife don't get them. Seriously, I'm very responsible and am working on plans for all possible things that could harm them. Until you posted I never thought of RLD in parrots. UGH. One more thing to worry about.

Dayna

www.AvianNation.com

[taropatch]

Most of our discussion centers around RLD infections from vegetables, but you can also get it from undercooked freshwater animals -- snails, crabs, fish and prawns. This is getting scarier as the Malaysian prawns taken from our freshwater streams are a popular item on the grill.

http://www.mauiready.org/documents/MCHV_..._size).pdf

At the lecture, someone asked if the coqui frog can be a carrier and the answer was in the affirmative as it eats slugs. I guess I won't be biting them in the head any more.

[Dave Smith]

Thank you Steven, once again, for your invaluable contributions to the public's welfare.

[whalesong]

The latest information discussed at a meeting here in Hilo. View the video here:

http://www.hawaii247.com/2011/11/12/expe...-pharmacy/

[jerry]

There is a leptos vaccination for dogs, what about humans?

Jerry
Art and Orchids B&B
http://www.artandorchids.com

[Kelena]

How about hydroponic lettuce? And what about herbs that are smoked, but grown locally?

[AlohaSteven]

How about hydroponic lettuce? And what about herbs that are smoked, but grown locally?

(IMHO) Hydroponic lettuce is equally as vulnerable to harbor slug neonates filled with rat lungworm L3 as any other lettuce IF the hydroponic system in which the lettuce was grown has not been designed to prevent infestation by slugs & snails, IF the produce is not carefully inspected &/or subjected to brine dip and freshwater rinse to shock invertebrate neonates with osmolaric difference and thus cause them to drop off, and IF rats filled with adult lungworms are present and defecating in or very near the hydroponic greenhouse. Compared to random lettuce grown in a random garden patch and consumed without careful inspection & thoughtful prep handling that is a lot of "if"s, yet caveat emptor still holds sway. One big mistake matters hugely with this issue, as with HIV.

Regarding medicinal herbs, I have heard zero so far about the prevalence of RLD-harboring slugs on Puna's most celebrated variety of herb, yet the principles of disinfection and sterilization should still apply equally. Factors of elevation and pressure make glib answers unreliable as regards cooking time and temperature, yet in general whatever it takes to turn the gooey transparent albumin liquid of a chicken egg into the familiar white coagulated "eggwhite" we all know from breakfast, that temperature and cooking time will also kill rat lungworm L3. So, if brownies are well-cooked enough to coagulate eggwhites, or herb is smoked at high enough temperature to incinerate eggwhite, then such treatment should also neutralize the rat lungworm L3 as well.

If the link following works then click it for a great summary at this fellow's website. If the link does not work then go to www.microrao.com and search the keywords "disinfection sterilization" at the good professor's website. An understandable yet comprehensive and accurate treatment of the topic as far as I can see.
http://www.microrao.com/search.htm?cx=pa...rao.com%2F


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MSP's wingsuit segment from "Seven Sunny Days"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0tU3Hy7et8&feature=related

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[AlohaSteven]

At long last the video from UHH's College of Pharmacy forum on RLWD is now posted to the web. The delay in web-posting was due to a legal requirement there be subtitles provided for the hearing impaired; it took awhile to locate the funding and actually get this done.


http://pharmacy.uhh.hawaii.edu/rlw/


There are some good, thorough, hardworking folks doing their best on several fronts to make progress with this problem locally. Results of some of this work will soon be available, after it has been replicated and confirmed.

In the meanwhile, please continue to:
-use rat control measures,
-clean up litter (especially plastic; semi-slugs thrive under plastic),
-avoid veggies &/or fruit with signs of slug infestation (e.g., coiled feces),
-use a salt brine dip to knock possible hidden slugs off leafy veggies, then rinse with fresh water
-inspect raw food carefully before eating,
-cook items such as freshwater prawns (with heat, not just vinegar).

I will post an update as soon as I have anything solid and cleared for public distribution to share.




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MSP's wingsuit segment from "Seven Sunny Days"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0tU3Hy7et8&feature=related

)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(