Infectious Parasitic Worm Gaining Ground in US; Most Recent Carriers Discovered in Bears
A Gross Invader: The Creeping Spread of Thelazia callipaeda
Get ready to shoo flies, mate! A gruesome, parasitic eyeworm is making its way across the US, and it's not just targeting your pets anymore. The latest victim? An American black bear from good ol' Pennsylvania.
This slimy invader goes by the name Thelazia callipaeda, and it's known for causing some nasty ocular infections in various creatures, from canines to carnivores. But don't let its fancy name fool you - it gets around pretty easily thanks to its accomplice, the Phortica variegata fly. This little dude may look just like your common house fly, but it's got a taste for something more unusual - feeding on an animal's tears.
The larvae of this worm ride along on the Phortica variegata fly from a host's eye, where they develop into the next stage of life in the fly's gut. Then, they take a ride out of the fly's mouth and into a new host's eye. Once there, they grow up, mate, and lay eggs to start the whole gross cycle all over again.
So, what's the big deal? Well, until recently, T. callipaeda was thought to be confined to Europe and Asia. But in 2018, authorities reported the first local U.S. case in a pet dog from New York. Since then, we've seen cases in cats and dogs, mostly from the Northeast. And now, the latest case - detailed in a report published Wednesday in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases - was found in a black bear legally harvested in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, back in November 2023.
When someone prepping the bear for taxidermy noticed multiple roundworms behind one of its third eyelids, the scientists couldn't believe their eyes. They examined the worms and, after further genetic testing, identified nine female and four male T. callipaeda worms from the bear's eye. These worms were closely related to those found in other recent North American cases and European ones as well.
The researchers are warning that this discovery could be a sign of rapid expansion in the population and range of T. callipaeda. Given black bears' wide distribution across the continent, it's concerning that the worms have made their way from pets to wildlife. If the worms have truly established themselves in the U.S., it could spell trouble for endangered animals, humans, and their pets.
But let's not forget - T. callipaeda isn't even our only eyeworm concern these days. Just a few years ago, the first human cases of Thelazia gulosa infection were reported in the U.S. So, swat those flies away whenever you spot one, will ya? Keep an eye out for any unusual symptoms in your pets or in the wild, and remember - knowledge is power when it comes to keeping these little critters at bay.
One helpful tip: if you're spending time in an area known to be home to black bears, keep your distance and don't disturb them. By reducing habitat overlap between these mammals and their pesky parasitic pals, we can help stop the spread of these unwelcome invaders.
In the future, technology and science may be vital in addressing the spreading Thelazia callipaeda eyeworm, which could pose threats to wildlife, humans, and pets alike in 2023.As the health implications of these eyeworms become more apparent, it's crucial to pay attention to our bodily symptoms and monitor wildlife populations for any signs of these invasive parasites.The confirmed case of Thelazia callipaeda in a black bear from Pennsylvania highlights the need for increased surveillance and research in the domain of wildlife health and science.Furthermore, the rapid spread of eyeworms like Thelazia callipaeda underlines the importance of preserving the integrity of ecosystems, as the future health of the planet's wildlife may heavily depend on our actions in the coming years.
