sa国际传媒官网网页入口

The New World screwworm, declared eradicated in the United States over half a century ago, returned to the country this month. As of Friday, officials had confirmed nine , including one in New Mexico.

A small-breed male dog in Eunice picked up the parasite in a case confirmed June 9. The dog was reportedly undergoing treatment at a clinic over the state line in Andrews, Texas, where it was first diagnosed.

Despite early reports that the dog may have been imported from or visited Mexico, the New Mexico Livestock Board determined that the dog had not, in fact, traveled except for veterinary appointments in Texas.

While much has been reported about the dangers the parasite presents to cattle herds and other livestock, domestic pets and wildlife are also potential carriers.

Veterinarians told the Journal the public should watch their pets closely, especially if they present wounds of any size 鈥� or even scratch frequently. In the event of an infestation, they said immediate treatment could save the animal鈥檚 life.

Screwworm, despite the name, is not a worm but a fly. 鈥淚t's the larval stage of the fly, that kind of looks like a worm,鈥� veterinarian Dr. Kate Elden said in an interview. 鈥淭he fly lands on any wound, any break in the skin.鈥�

Tick bites, minor abrasions from digging around or scratching at fleas, even the folds of skin on a lovable squishy dog face can become a site for screwworm eggs to hatch maggot-like larvae.

Dr. John Kuitu of the Great Plains Veterinary Clinic and Hospital in Hobbs said that, while he has not treated New World screwworm, he has faced other species. While treatable, he said an infestation is 鈥渁 devastating problem.鈥�

鈥淭hey will lay eggs in a wound, along the genital area or the anal area, too,鈥� Kuitu said, 鈥淭he larvae will burrow into the wound and get underneath the skin and eat the skin. It eats tissue. It has a foul odor, like the smell of rotting flesh. They can cause a tremendous amount of damage.鈥�

Any warm-blooded animal, even people, can be a host for the larvae. Unlike maggots, they depend on eating living flesh to survive. Elden said, 鈥淭he wound expands as they dig through healthy muscle, any tissue in their way. The pet can become secondarily infected, and that infection can become systemic and life-threatening 鈥� not to mention the pain.鈥�

Prevention and treatment

As a proactive measure, year-round flea, tick and heartworm preventatives are recommended, Elden urged, particularly isoxazoline treatments available by prescription.

In the event of an infestation, she said a veterinarian would be required to report the disease and collect what larvae they can for testing. For dogs not already taking flea and tick medicine, she said a vet might prescribe an emergency treatment of Credelio Quattro CA1, recently granted by the Food and Drug Administration for treating New World screwworm.

Something to be aware of, Elden said, is that some preventatives repel flies while others require a pest鈥檚 bite to deliver the poison. For dogs, Elden suggested doubling up in areas near an outbreak, with a topical repellent in addition to products designed to kill pests. She warned, however, that the topicals can be toxic for cats, who should be kept separate from dogs when applying that medication.

Kuitu and Elden both advised watching any scratch or wound closely 鈥� multiple times a day 鈥� for signs that the wound is growing rather than healing.

鈥淎ny wound on an animal, you鈥檝e got to keep a close eye on it and spray that area with a good flea spray, for small animals like a dog or a cat, and keep that wound clean,鈥� Kuitu said.

鈥淎 wound that鈥檚 growing or smells funny, if they鈥檙e licking or chewing at something that seems painful, any signs of lethargy or fatigue that would be unusual 鈥� that鈥檚 a do-not-wait situation, that鈥檚 a talk-to-a-veterinarian-right-away situation,鈥� Elden said.

A further point in favor of preventative care and close monitoring of animals is New Mexico鈥檚 shortage of veterinarians and animal hospitals, affecting not only livestock but pet care in rural areas of the state.

Elden is the chief medical officer of Dutch, a telemedicine veterinary service. While online veterinary advice can be a great help in rural and underserved areas, New Mexico code prohibits veterinary prescriptions via telehealth services, although remote consultations are permitted.

Deborah Schenck, executive director of the New Mexico Bureau of Veterinary Medicine, said, 鈥淭he pet has to be seen in person to be considered a valid veterinarian-client-pet relationship.鈥�

Screwworm infestation is treatable, but treatment and prognosis depend on how soon it is identified, the extent of any damage and complications such as infected wounds and tissue damage.

鈥淚f it鈥檚 caught right away and the wound is relatively small, it鈥檚 treated much like any wound,鈥� Elden said. 鈥淭hey would clean out all those larvae and any unhealthy tissue, start on antibiotics, give fluids to hydrate (the pet). If there鈥檚 a really large wound and secondary infections or systemic infections, the pet might need to be hospitalized.鈥�

In south Texas, eight cases were active as of Friday, affecting goats and cattle. In Lea County, where New Mexico鈥檚 first case was confirmed, state and federal agencies were coordinating efforts to surveil the area and plan for containment measures such as introducing sterile male flies to the area, as the female screwworm only mates once in its lifespan.

Algernon 顿鈥橝尘尘补蝉蝉补 is the Journal鈥檚 southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.