An invasive, dog-killing parasite is now lurking in Southern California.
H. americana is one of many worm species nicknamed the liver fluke.
When these worms infect dogs, they cause a disease calledcanine schistosomiasis.
Image: Paul’s Lady (Shutterstock)
They then trigger inflammation and the formation of immune cell clusters called granulomas that can damage the body.
Dillman and his team decided to look for H. americana in its presumed new hunting grounds.
It was a thrilling moment for us, Dillman told Gizmodo.
An illustration of the worm’s complex life cycle by the study authors.Illustration: Baniya, et al/Pathogens.
But the worms do seem to have become a larger risk to dogs and other animals than once assumed.
Another unanswered question is exactly how these snails ended up in the river in the first place.
Climate change may be a factor, but human activity could also certainly be a factor as well.
We just dont know, Dillman said.
For now, the scientists hope their work can help keep dogs and their owners safe from the parasite.
Its good to know that this is a possibility.
While Dillman mostly works with roundworms, he would like to keep studying H. americana if he can.
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