(ARA) - Increasing travel -- global travel in particular -- is leading to new diseases spreading from country to country. Chronic Wasting Disease, Monkeypox, Avian Influenza -- you name it and chances are it moved quickly from one country to the next.
One of the latest diseases starting to show up in the United States is Chagas Disease, a condition that rarely causes early symptoms, but if left untreated, can cause an enlarged heart or an irregular heartbeat which can be potentially life threatening. Here is some helpful information for you, your family or your pets in the event you live in an area of the United States that is currently impacted by the disease -- or are traveling to areas of the world where it is common.
What is Chagas Disease?
“Most Americans do not have to worry about contracting Chagas Disease -- even if they are traveling to regions where it is more prevalent,” says Dr. Paul Stromberg, veterinary pathologist at Ohio State University and past president of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, a professional organization that studies emerging diseases and works to protect both human and animal health. “However, we are seeing increasing incidence in the southwest United States.”
Chagas Disease is most prevalent in areas of extreme poverty and as many as 18 million people in 18 countries throughout Central and South America may be infected. It is the third largest tropical disease burden today. Only 350,000 people in the United States are estimated to have Chagas Disease.
“The vast majority of those infected in the United States originated from countries in infected areas,” says Stromberg. “Large migrations of people and increasing contact with infected regions help to spread the disease from country to country.”
Insect transmission in the United States, according to Stromberg, is extremely rare. More often this disease has been transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Blood transfusions and organ donation can both be methods to transmit this disease.
Very common in South and Central America, this disease is most often transferred by the reduviid insect, commonly known as the “kissing bug.” Named for its propensity to bite people’s faces, the kissing bug is a nocturnal insect that lives in thatched roofs and cracked walls. Because kissing bugs come out at night, it’s important for travelers to South and Central America to use insect repellant and treated bed nets if they are not staying in well-constructed, air-conditioned hotels.
There is no vaccination to help protect against this disease, but if it is detected and treated, those suffering from it can make a full recovery. Today, blood banks regularly screen for Chagas Disease to protect the blood supply from this type of transmission.
Watch for Chagas Disease in Pets, too
Another important focus area for Chagas Disease transmission is through animals. Dogs, opossums and armadillos are all susceptible to his disease. Since 2003, Chagas has been observed in dogs in the United States. Reports have come from Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
In South America, domestic dogs are actually reservoirs of the disease. While transmission from dog to human in the United States is unlikely due to our current standard of living, global climate change and changing socioeconomic conditions could make this an important emerging disease in parts of the country.
“Veterinarians as well as pathologists in these states are keeping a keen eye on this condition in dogs,” Stromberg reports. “Chagas disease remains relatively rare in this part of the world, but it is important to continue to take the precautions you normally would to help protect your family and your pets from all possible health threats -- especially when traveling.”
For more information about Chagas Disease, go to the Centers for Disease Control Web site or visit www.acvp.org for a quick fact sheet.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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Showing posts with label insects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insects. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bluebird Numbers Plummet in 2008
24-7 -- The soft, plaintive cries of the bluebird were eerily silent this past summer. Mountain bluebirds seem to have taken a population nose-dive all across Alberta. People monitoring bluebird nest boxes reported a marked reduction in nesting pairs. This is significant for a species that was once declared 'at risk' and has since made a great recovery. At this point in time, there are no definitive answers or explanations from the scientific community and no one can estimate how long it will take them to rebound.
Many wild species fluctuate from time to time, either in yearly or multi-year cycles. A look at any given set of population statistics generally shows increases and decreases in a random pattern and any number of environmental or human-caused factors can account for them.
So the question remains, is this year's decline in mountain bluebirds a natural occurrence? If so, how serious is it and will they soon recover? Ultimately, what factor or factors might account for it?
Other cavity nesters seem unaffected.
Like the mountain bluebird, tree swallows are cavity nesters, capitalizing on holes in trees created by the aging process, by woodpeckers, by insect damage, and so on. They also rely heavily on artificial bird houses constructed and placed by people. Sometimes those houses are single adornments erected in an urban yard, sometimes they are part of a 'bluebird trail', literally miles of nest boxes attached like lonely sentinels to fence posts in farmers' fields. In 2008, trail monitors reported normal tree swallow numbers, and for other cavity nesters, such as wrens and chickadees, the story seems to be the same, no significant difference from previous years. So what's happened to the bluebirds and should we be alarmed?
It's not news to anyone that wildlife is declining all over the world. Many of these trends can be directly attributed to human activity. Songbirds are susceptible to pesticides, outdoor cats, window strikes, and a myriad of other human factors that scientists say claim the lives of millions upon millions of wild birds each year. Birds are also threatened by natural causes such as weather anomalies and disease, though it should be noted the latter can also be exacerbated by human activities. For example, some studies link toxoplasmosis in perching birds to feral cats.
What makes the summer '08 picture so alarming is the historical demise of North American bluebirds that occurred in the last two centuries. Forest clearing across much of their range resulted in the loss of critical nesting sites but the biggest threat came from the invasion of two non-native songbirds: the house sparrow and the starling. Both species are cavity nesters - brought to North America from England and Europe - that compete aggressively for appropriate cavities. Starlings are very early migrants and take advantage of the best nest spots early in the breeding season. House sparrows, also known as English sparrows and English weaver finches, don't migrate at all so they are also able to dominate nesting spots early.
By the 1960's and 70's, bluebirds had reached all-time low numbers due to this invasion. Youth groups, birding societies, and naturalists, were among those who built huge numbers of nest boxes and placed them in rural locations to assist the bluebird's return. This program was hugely successful, bringing bluebirds 'back from the brink'. Decades later, people are still buying and building bluebird houses in great quantities and several species are making great use of them. Nest box plans can be very sophisticated as repeated trial and error studies have defined exactly what makes the best bird house in order to maximize survival of the young.
Is the '08 decline a one-time incident then? Will fewer bluebirds return next spring or will their numbers rebound in 2009 and 2010? Is there anything that can be done to help?
You bet there is. Bluebirds are insectivores so we can reduce or eliminate pesticide use and let birds take care of the insect control business. We can protect both bluebirds and pet cats by keeping the latter indoors. We can also erect ornithologically-correct bird houses and provide proper maintenance for existing bird houses.
One particular biologist in Alberta has been working hard for two decades, educating people about hazards for wildlife that are created by human activity. Long time director of the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Dianne Wittner noticed an apparent shortage of bluebirds as early as March, the month they return from the south. As summer progressed, the nest boxes normally occupied by bluebirds remained vacant.
Wittner suspected the cold, snowy spring may have impacted bluebirds which nest earlier than swallows, though she also noted that unfavourable spring weather is the norm in Alberta. "Year after year, we see bluebirds forced to abandon nests when sudden cold weather affects food supply (insects). Inspection of bluebird houses during these events often reveals frozen eggs and starving adults." Furthermore, bluebirds are able to produce two clutches per season if conditions are right, which has not been the case in recent years. Wittner speculates several bad springs in a row may have caused gradual population reductions. However, she is quick to add no one really knows for sure what is going on. "It could be several factors working together, but whatever it is, I hope it's only temporary. Bluebirds are so incredibly beneficial, not to mention how beautiful they are. Like all songbirds, they battle a host of natural factors, let alone those imposed upon them by people."
It will be interesting to see if other species of bluebirds show a significant decline across the continent. All three species have suffered setbacks since the introduction of the house sparrow and the starling and all three have been assisted with the advent of artificial nest boxes. The true test will come next March when bluebirds return.
In the meantime, when Wittner is not saving wild lives, she is busy encouraging people to erect bird houses for a variety of species. Through a website called Northern Bird Houses, Wittner and her team offers information on proper placement of species-specific nest boxes and ledges to help offset habitat loss. "There is no substitute for habitat conservation," she says, "But everyone can help wildlife in their own yards with a few simple steps. One of those is the addition and maintenance of a good bird house. You will be rewarded year after year by this very simple act and who knows how many wild birds will benefit?"
-----
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Many wild species fluctuate from time to time, either in yearly or multi-year cycles. A look at any given set of population statistics generally shows increases and decreases in a random pattern and any number of environmental or human-caused factors can account for them.
So the question remains, is this year's decline in mountain bluebirds a natural occurrence? If so, how serious is it and will they soon recover? Ultimately, what factor or factors might account for it?
Other cavity nesters seem unaffected.
Like the mountain bluebird, tree swallows are cavity nesters, capitalizing on holes in trees created by the aging process, by woodpeckers, by insect damage, and so on. They also rely heavily on artificial bird houses constructed and placed by people. Sometimes those houses are single adornments erected in an urban yard, sometimes they are part of a 'bluebird trail', literally miles of nest boxes attached like lonely sentinels to fence posts in farmers' fields. In 2008, trail monitors reported normal tree swallow numbers, and for other cavity nesters, such as wrens and chickadees, the story seems to be the same, no significant difference from previous years. So what's happened to the bluebirds and should we be alarmed?
It's not news to anyone that wildlife is declining all over the world. Many of these trends can be directly attributed to human activity. Songbirds are susceptible to pesticides, outdoor cats, window strikes, and a myriad of other human factors that scientists say claim the lives of millions upon millions of wild birds each year. Birds are also threatened by natural causes such as weather anomalies and disease, though it should be noted the latter can also be exacerbated by human activities. For example, some studies link toxoplasmosis in perching birds to feral cats.
What makes the summer '08 picture so alarming is the historical demise of North American bluebirds that occurred in the last two centuries. Forest clearing across much of their range resulted in the loss of critical nesting sites but the biggest threat came from the invasion of two non-native songbirds: the house sparrow and the starling. Both species are cavity nesters - brought to North America from England and Europe - that compete aggressively for appropriate cavities. Starlings are very early migrants and take advantage of the best nest spots early in the breeding season. House sparrows, also known as English sparrows and English weaver finches, don't migrate at all so they are also able to dominate nesting spots early.
By the 1960's and 70's, bluebirds had reached all-time low numbers due to this invasion. Youth groups, birding societies, and naturalists, were among those who built huge numbers of nest boxes and placed them in rural locations to assist the bluebird's return. This program was hugely successful, bringing bluebirds 'back from the brink'. Decades later, people are still buying and building bluebird houses in great quantities and several species are making great use of them. Nest box plans can be very sophisticated as repeated trial and error studies have defined exactly what makes the best bird house in order to maximize survival of the young.
Is the '08 decline a one-time incident then? Will fewer bluebirds return next spring or will their numbers rebound in 2009 and 2010? Is there anything that can be done to help?
You bet there is. Bluebirds are insectivores so we can reduce or eliminate pesticide use and let birds take care of the insect control business. We can protect both bluebirds and pet cats by keeping the latter indoors. We can also erect ornithologically-correct bird houses and provide proper maintenance for existing bird houses.
One particular biologist in Alberta has been working hard for two decades, educating people about hazards for wildlife that are created by human activity. Long time director of the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Dianne Wittner noticed an apparent shortage of bluebirds as early as March, the month they return from the south. As summer progressed, the nest boxes normally occupied by bluebirds remained vacant.
Wittner suspected the cold, snowy spring may have impacted bluebirds which nest earlier than swallows, though she also noted that unfavourable spring weather is the norm in Alberta. "Year after year, we see bluebirds forced to abandon nests when sudden cold weather affects food supply (insects). Inspection of bluebird houses during these events often reveals frozen eggs and starving adults." Furthermore, bluebirds are able to produce two clutches per season if conditions are right, which has not been the case in recent years. Wittner speculates several bad springs in a row may have caused gradual population reductions. However, she is quick to add no one really knows for sure what is going on. "It could be several factors working together, but whatever it is, I hope it's only temporary. Bluebirds are so incredibly beneficial, not to mention how beautiful they are. Like all songbirds, they battle a host of natural factors, let alone those imposed upon them by people."
It will be interesting to see if other species of bluebirds show a significant decline across the continent. All three species have suffered setbacks since the introduction of the house sparrow and the starling and all three have been assisted with the advent of artificial nest boxes. The true test will come next March when bluebirds return.
In the meantime, when Wittner is not saving wild lives, she is busy encouraging people to erect bird houses for a variety of species. Through a website called Northern Bird Houses, Wittner and her team offers information on proper placement of species-specific nest boxes and ledges to help offset habitat loss. "There is no substitute for habitat conservation," she says, "But everyone can help wildlife in their own yards with a few simple steps. One of those is the addition and maintenance of a good bird house. You will be rewarded year after year by this very simple act and who knows how many wild birds will benefit?"
-----
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
The HSUS Warns that Young Bats Can Take a Wrong Turn into Your Home
AAG Note: This recently happened to one of our staff members. A young bat flew into the house. After the screaming had stopped, the young Fayette County bat was safely removed to the outside and flew away into the darkness.
While bats are widely recognized for the positive environmental benefits that they provide with their insatiable appetite for insects — and a starring role in a blockbuster movie — they still can cause fear in people, especially when they make their way into your home. And no one wants to be surprised by a chance meeting in the house, including the bat.
According to John Griffin, director of The Humane Society of the United States' Humane Wildlife Services, "These incidents often occur this time of year when young and newly weaned bats get lost trying to make their way out of an attic for the first time to join the rest of their colony in nocturnal foraging for insects."
Attics are the ultimate hang-out for bats because they provide the high temperatures and undisturbed environments that bats need for resting, giving birth and rearing young. Baby bats are born in late spring and become mobile and interested in braving the great outdoors around the end of summer. The young bats can sometimes take a wrong turn and end up flying into the living areas of your home.
Griffin explains, "There are two issues that homeowners are faced with when it comes to an accidental intrusion. First, the humane removal of the wayward bat and second, making sure that the home interior is sealed up properly so that unexpected visitors from the attic don't intrude again."
Removal of a wayward bat in your living space:
When a bat or any wild animal is inside, local animal care and control agencies usually respond with immediate help. Some homeowners may take matters into their own hands and capture the bat themselves. To do this as safely as possible, make sure that you do not come in contact with the bat by using a container (e.g. a plastic food container or shoebox) and placing it over the bat when he or she is at rest on drapery or the wall. The lid is then carefully slid underneath to contain the bat. Heavy gloves MUST be used to do this. NEVER try to handle a bat with bare hands or cotton gloves. Once contained, the bat can be safely released outside, but be sure to put the bat on a tree limb or wall since they cannot fly from the ground up.
If there is any chance that the bat was in the room of a sleeping or intoxicated person or young child, health authorities mandate that the bat be captured and tested for rabies — even if there's only a slim chance that the bat could have bitten someone without their knowing it.
Humane exclusion of the colony:
This is almost always a job for professionals, who can determine where and how the bats are getting inside the structure and properly install the appropriate exclusion material and one-way doors (or "check valves") that let them out but not back in. Bats can enter attics through openings as small as a nickel and an experienced eye is best in determining where they are coming and going from.
Some bats will leave buildings to fly to sites where they hibernate over winter, and others will overwinter. An experienced and professional installer can determine which species of bat is present and how they are using a structure and plan a humane exclusion strategy accordingly.
Bats help to control insects and pollinate numerous plants we depend upon. If you have a colony excluded from your house, or simply want the incredible benefits they provide, The HSUS recommends putting up a bat house outside to give the bats alternative roosting quarters.
_____
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While bats are widely recognized for the positive environmental benefits that they provide with their insatiable appetite for insects — and a starring role in a blockbuster movie — they still can cause fear in people, especially when they make their way into your home. And no one wants to be surprised by a chance meeting in the house, including the bat.
According to John Griffin, director of The Humane Society of the United States' Humane Wildlife Services, "These incidents often occur this time of year when young and newly weaned bats get lost trying to make their way out of an attic for the first time to join the rest of their colony in nocturnal foraging for insects."
Attics are the ultimate hang-out for bats because they provide the high temperatures and undisturbed environments that bats need for resting, giving birth and rearing young. Baby bats are born in late spring and become mobile and interested in braving the great outdoors around the end of summer. The young bats can sometimes take a wrong turn and end up flying into the living areas of your home.
Griffin explains, "There are two issues that homeowners are faced with when it comes to an accidental intrusion. First, the humane removal of the wayward bat and second, making sure that the home interior is sealed up properly so that unexpected visitors from the attic don't intrude again."
Removal of a wayward bat in your living space:
When a bat or any wild animal is inside, local animal care and control agencies usually respond with immediate help. Some homeowners may take matters into their own hands and capture the bat themselves. To do this as safely as possible, make sure that you do not come in contact with the bat by using a container (e.g. a plastic food container or shoebox) and placing it over the bat when he or she is at rest on drapery or the wall. The lid is then carefully slid underneath to contain the bat. Heavy gloves MUST be used to do this. NEVER try to handle a bat with bare hands or cotton gloves. Once contained, the bat can be safely released outside, but be sure to put the bat on a tree limb or wall since they cannot fly from the ground up.
If there is any chance that the bat was in the room of a sleeping or intoxicated person or young child, health authorities mandate that the bat be captured and tested for rabies — even if there's only a slim chance that the bat could have bitten someone without their knowing it.
Humane exclusion of the colony:
This is almost always a job for professionals, who can determine where and how the bats are getting inside the structure and properly install the appropriate exclusion material and one-way doors (or "check valves") that let them out but not back in. Bats can enter attics through openings as small as a nickel and an experienced eye is best in determining where they are coming and going from.
Some bats will leave buildings to fly to sites where they hibernate over winter, and others will overwinter. An experienced and professional installer can determine which species of bat is present and how they are using a structure and plan a humane exclusion strategy accordingly.
Bats help to control insects and pollinate numerous plants we depend upon. If you have a colony excluded from your house, or simply want the incredible benefits they provide, The HSUS recommends putting up a bat house outside to give the bats alternative roosting quarters.
_____
www.fayettefrontpage.com
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www.georgiafrontpage.com
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