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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Nasty parasite recently found it cats is common in wildlife

When Cornell University veterinarians found half-foot-long worms living in their feline patients in 2013, they had discovered something new: The worms, Dracunculus insignis, are common in wildlife but they had never before been seen in cats. (Cornell University)
When Cornell University veterinarians found half-foot-long worms living in their feline patients in 2013, they had discovered something new: The worms, Dracunculus insignis, are common in wildlife but they had never before been seen in cats. (Cornell University)

WILDLIFE -- Each your breakfast first, they check out this Science Daily report about a nasty parasitic worm that's common in wildlife but recently discovered to be infecting domestic cats in the USA.

It's life cycle is the making for a great gore movie.

Some groups are vehemently opposing the reintroduction of gray wolves on the unfounded basis that they could transmit parasites to humans. (Wolves and other creatures have had these parasites for many generations with no harm to humans, who'd have to eat the feces of the animals to be infected. (See a report by the Idaho state wildlife veterinarian.)

But I'm wondering:  Will these anti-wolf groups now target your kitty on their websites?

 

 



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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