[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Mex to N.Calif - 15 more Meximutts Migrate Northward
- From: "Cyndi Flautt" <caretti1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "'Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org'" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 21:25:05 -0500
-----Original Message-----
From: showgsd-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:showgsd-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Ginger Cleary
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 9:00 PM
To: Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Mex to N.Calif - 15 more Meximutts Migrate
Northward
Hey, they can do it all they want (as long as they are properly vaccinated,
etc BEFORE they get here... which I don't believe they are) but don't then
go whining and crying about "overpopulation" in this country, while trying
to put a stop to breeding purebred dogs.
****************************************************************************
Amen to that, Ginger.......And here is another issue to consider....Read
below about the case of screwworm found in a 16 year old dog imported from
Trinidad. Pretty scary if you ask me.........
Cyndi
www.carettigsd.com <http://www.carettigsd.com/>
a message from Mississippi State Veterinarian Dr. Jim Watson
On Thursday, September 21, 2007 the National Veterinary Services Laboratory
confirmed that larvae removed from a canine that had just been imported from
Trinidad to Mississippi has Cochliomyia hominivorax, or the New World
Screwworm. Screwworms are flesh-eating fly larvae (maggots) that can infect
any warm-blooded mammal, including humans. Left untreated, screwworm
infestation can be fatal.
Screwworms have been eradicated in the United States, Mexico, and all
countries in Central America; however, they could become re-established from
larvae carried on infested animals.
Livestock losses from screwworm in the 1960's were estimated to be in excess
of $250 million/year. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates
that if a re-infestation became established in the US, livestock losses
would be in excess of $844 million/year. The last identification of
screwworm importation occurred in Florida in 2000. In this case a private
practitioner found screwworm larvae on a horse imported from Argentina.
Prompt reporting and response prevented re-infestation.
Prompt reporting and response may have prevented a re-infestation in this
case as well. What we know is that two dogs were imported from Trinidad
arrived at the Miami airport September 13th. The dogs were then driven by
the owner straight to Hancock County. The owner only stopped at rest stops
to allow the dogs to walk around. The dogs had been sedated for the flight
so they remained sedate for the majority of the trip to MS. They arrived in
the early morning hours of September 15th and that evening the owners
noticed that the drainage from the eyes that was commonly seen in one of the
dogs had changed and that the dog appeared restless and uncomfortable. The
dog is a 16 year old Pompel that had always lived in Trinidad. She has a
history of diabetes, heart murmur, glaucoma, blindness and long-term eye
drainage problems. The dog commonly had drainage from the eyes which the
owners continually cleaned. However, by the morning of September 16th the
drainage appeared bloody.
The owners presented the animal to the Picayune Animal Health Center for
examination. The veterinarian examined the eyes which showed a bilateral
globe rupture and malodorous, bloody discharge. The dog was anesthetized
and both eyes were enucleated. After removal of the globes, larvae were
noted in the caudal aspect of the globe around the optic nerve. They were
removed and destroyed, the surgery was completed and the animal recovered
uneventfully. The dog was then transported to the Hancock Animal Clinic
(the second of three clinics operated by the group of veterinarians involved
in this case) which was closer to the owners' home.
Care of the dog was transferred to another veterinarian on September 17th
and upon re-examination of the eyes, additional larvae were noted coming out
of the lateral canthus of the eyes. The animal was anesthetized and the
sutures were removed. The veterinarian removed the larvae which were now
larger in size, preserved them in a plastic container, then cleaned and
re-sutured the eyes. The dog's general condition and attitude were improved
on September 18th so the dog was sent home with the owners.
On September 18th the group of veterinarians discussed the case and
suspected screwworm infection so they promptly contacted me. I received the
samples and submitted them to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
The NVSL confirmed the larvae to be Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World
Screwworm on September 20th and so notified Dr. Nettles, the Area
Veterinarian in Charge USDA/APHIS/VS and myself. Since Screwworm has been
eradicated from the United States since 1964, there is concern that
re-introduction of this pest could occur through importation of infected
animals from screwworm endemic areas.
A conference call was held between southern state and federal animal health
officials on September 21st. Information thus far indicates that there is a
low risk of adult flies emerging from the animal in Florida or MS. However,
the greatest risk is in MS.
Based on the current evidence the following course of action is being taken:
. No active surveillance is required because of the suspicion of screwworms
and prompt submission of the larvae by the attending veterinarians.
However, veterinarians and others need to be on the alert for, and report,
any suspected larvae or maggot infested animal wounds to us immediately. It
is advisable that you notify me of any myiasis found in an animal for the
next six months. Our emergency reporting hotline number is 1-888-646-8731.
. Animal Health officials from the MS Board of Animal Health and the
USDA/APHIS/VS visited the exposed veterinary clinics and the dog owners'
home. The clinics and premises, the owners' home and premise, the vehicles
that transported the dog, the dog's crate are to be space sprayed with
pesticide as a precautionary measure.
. The dog will remain under quarantine at the owner's home until such time I
determine there is no longer any risk of screwworm infection from the
animal.
Dr. Nettles and I will continue to monitor the situation and will provide
additional information and updates if things change. If you have any
questions or identify any larval myiasis, call my office at 1-888-646-8731.
In conclusion, I would like to commend the private veterinarians who
suspected and reported their concern of a possible Foreign Animal Disease.
Their quick thinking and prompt reporting prevented this from becoming a
much bigger problem - many thanks to Drs. Kevin Smith, Warren Martin,
Amanda Foxworth, and Blythe Odom. Please let this incident serve as a
reminder of how important your role is in preventing devastating diseases
from affecting the safety and health of the animals and citizens of
Mississippi.
Sincerely,
Jim Watson, DVM
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