Posted on 06/09/2008 1:03:34 PM PDT by girlangler
Wyoming officials confirm fifth case of plague found in mountain lions
Friday, June 6, 2008 4:51 PM MDT
Mountain lion hunters, the owners of domestic cats and others who may come in contact with mountain lions in Wyoming and other Western states are urged to protect themselves and their animals against plague.
“Plague was confirmed in a mountain lion found dead in mid-April by a landowner in rural Johnson County,” said Todd Cornish, an associate professor in the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture's Department of Veterinary Sciences.
Cornish said this is the fifth case of plague confirmed in mountain lions in Wyoming in the past three years. The other four cases were in Teton County and the Greater Yellowstone Area of northwestern Wyoming.
“Plague is an important consideration when mountain lions are found sick or dead in Wyoming and elsewhere in the western United States,” Cornish said.
Those who find sick or dead mountain lions or similar species, including bobcats, in Wyoming should avoid contact with the animals and are asked to contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Cor-nish said.
“Appropriate personal safety precautions should be taken by wildlife professionals working in the field and diagnosticians working in laboratories when handling these animals or their tissues,” he added.
“Plague is a serious zoonotic disease capable of causing significant illness and even death in humans, as exemplified by a recent fatal case of plague in a wildlife biologist working at Grand Canyon National Park (in Arizona),” Cornish said.
A zoonotic disease is one that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
The National Park Service biologist, Eric York, 37, performed a necropsy of a mountain lion carcass last October, and approximately five days later he developed a high temperature, mild nausea, muscle aches, chills, a cough and streaks of blood in his saliva, according to an article in the April edition of the Newsletter of the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA).
York died several days later, and specimens from the biologist and the mountain lion both tested positive for the bacterium that causes plague, Yersinia pestis, according to the WDA article.
Wildlife biologists, wildlife veterinarians, public health officials, hunters skinning an animal with plague and the owners of domestic cats stricken with the disease are among those susceptible to plague. Cats can contract plague by eating an infected rodent or by being bitten by fleas from an infected host.
Cornish said, “What's becoming more of a common recommendation is to avoid allowing your cats to hunt wildlife. Concerned cat owners should also consider visiting with their veterinarian about a flea-control program.”
There have been one fatal and four non-fatal cases of humans contracting plague in Wyoming since 1978, said Karl Musgrave, state public health veterinarian with the Wyoming Department of Health. There were two cases in Washakie County and one each in Goshen, Laramie and Sheridan counties. The 1992 Sheridan County case resulted in the death of a man after he contracted the disease when skinning an infected bobcat. The Goshen County case involved a resident of Colorado.
WGFD assistant veterinarian Cynthia Tate said, “Finding plague in animals such as mountain lions and bobcats - and occasionally do-mestic cats - is not surprising because they eat rodents, and rodents are the typical carriers.”
Tate added, “Those who hunt or trap predators should protect themselves while skinning animals or handling traps by wearing long rubber or latex gloves. They need to avoid contact with an animal that appears sick (rough hair coat and/or drai-nage out of the eyes) and immediately contact the WGFD.”
Tate cautions that animals having plague may not appear sick because the disease can kill rapidly. The incubation period of plague is between two and six days after exposure, she noted. If hunters or others develop flu-like symptoms within that period, they should call their doctor. If your cat develops a fever and has swollen lymph nodes, it is time to call a veterinarian.
Hi guys,
Haven’t been on FR much lately (really busy) but saw this and wanted to post this one for you.
Wow.
I had not seen this :
The National Park Service biologist, Eric York, 37, performed a necropsy of a mountain lion carcass last October, and approximately five days later he developed a high temperature, mild nausea, muscle aches, chills, a cough and streaks of blood in his saliva...
York died several days later...
If you’d like to be on or off this Upper Midwest/outdoors/rural list please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.
Hi Girl and thanks, I hadn’t heard of this.
Hope things slow up for you, we’ve missed ya. :-)
***“Plague is a serious zoonotic disease capable of causing significant illness and even death in humans, as exemplified by a recent fatal case of plague in a wildlife biologist working at Grand Canyon National Park (in Arizona),” Cornish said. ***
The author forgot Europe.
So you could survive being attacked and mauled by a mountain lion but die of plague caught from the beast.
Caught from a flea on the beast - not the beast itself.
I know a fellow in my town who contracted the plague while helping some hunters with their antelope (he was their guide). This was 20 years ago or so and he is just fine -————— but ONLY because his doctor played a hunch he had and treated him immediately.
This in in Montana just north of Jellystone Park.
The plague has been with us for a while.
Went to Costco today to buy a box (100) of insulin syringes. Syringes are not a controlled item in my state (Montana). 100% over the counter.
The Pharmacist wanted my prescription before I could buy them. “I do not have a prescription,” I replied. “They are syringes. It's not necessary.”
I need your prescription for INSULIN - it's our policy.”
“I do not have a prescription for insulin. You do not sell the insulin MY CAT requires (it's pork based and will not work on humans) and furthermore you cannot get it (PZI). I just need the syringes.”
“Sorry, it's our policy.”
I went to my usual pharmacist and bought a box for 50 cents more than the Costco price.
I think the guy was just too new to the trade. Or too scared.
I'll take a VET any day.
My best,
Leo (of course, I'm not really Leo Farnsworth)
Ok, so now the problem isn’t the mountain lions that are coming to kill little Timmy, it’s that they may give him...the plague?
It’s a good thing fish don’t have fleas.
LOL. If they did I’d be safe, as little fishing as I’ve done lately.
Talked to Janet last night and she wants us to get together there after her tournament (which ends on the 20th).
I’ll freepmail you later, lots to tell you. I’ve got more company headed this way from Ohio, an ex publisher/friend of mine and his wife, who are in Gatlinburg and want to stop by for (I think) a day or two. Gotta go and call now and find out what their plans are.
I NEED a break and a relaxing fishing trip (LOL).
I miss ya’ll too jaz. Going to have to go on vacation so I can spend some time on FR (LOL).
The National Park Service biologist, Eric York, 37, performed a necropsy of a mountain lion carcass last October, and approximately five days later he developed a high temperature, mild nausea, muscle aches, chills, a cough and streaks of blood in his saliva...
York died several days later...
Since prairie dog colonies are full of fleas, and since prairie dogs carry Plague, ranchers are always happy to have hunters “directly reduce” the population of prairie dogs.
However, a vacuum truck does a far more efficient job. The Roto-Rooter Man has a whole new career ahead of him.
PS I have a modest suggestion:
Have the ‘dogs’ released on suitable lands owned by PETA types and/or employees of the Dept. of Wildlife.
PPS Some AgencyScientist might thus be able to publish a paper about a rare, newly discovered, ‘Brown Prairie Dog’. Given the infrequent rains in much of the West, that paper might even be published before the error was discovered. I suggest the Journal of Conservation Biology as the most likely, and most appropriate, journal for such a paper.
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