Liver fluke parasite Heterobilharzia americana, causing canine schistosomiasis, found for the first time in California's Colorado River.
Liver fluke, a potentially fatal parasite for dogs, has been discovered in California's Colorado River for the first time. The parasite, Heterobilharzia americana, was previously found in Texas and other Gulf Coast states. It can cause canine schistosomiasis, which affects dogs' liver and intestines. If untreated, dogs can die from this infection. The parasite's presence is linked to the presence of two species of snails that transmit the worm. The infection is not known to be capable of causing disease in humans but can cause swimmer's itch, a red rash, when the worm penetrates human skin.
March 14, 2024
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