[vetvetdoug]

Opossums have a body temperature of 97 degrees which is only a degree lower than we humans. My first thought was that opossums are warm blooded therefore they can transmit or carry rabies (which is correct). Rabies in opossums is rare and they may have some natural immunity because they are carrion feeders or prey upon the moribund, just like the vultures immunity against botulism. Now, opossums are really nasty and vile creatures and their bite would be like that of a Komodo dragon, full of nasty bacteria. Opossums are one of the most heavily parasitized animals that I have ever necropsied. They are typically infected with a heavy burden of intestinal parasites and protozoans. Any opossum bite would cause concern for a result with an a)infection b)tetanus and rabies. Opossums carry a nasty protozoan that if a horse gets infected with it will cause a meningitis that can be debilitating. For that reason alone, opossums are lead magnets on my property. I wouldn't doubt that they carry a disease that hasn't been diagnosed correctly in humans that originates from opossums. It took years to find out that protozoal myeloencephalitis in horses originated from opossums.

[Joe 6-pack]

Interesting notes; Thanks Doug. I was just recounting to somebody the other day how my old shep, Timber, dispatched two ‘possums back when we were living in PA.

[CholeraJoe]

Thanks. I, too have necropsied possums. I can't believe people eat them. They can carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi which causes Chagas' disease in humans, and is spread by the bite of insects in the Rejuvid family. There was an episode of "House" about Chagas' disease. It took me about 10 minutes to make the diagnosis and it took House the whole show.

I read about EPM. It sounds very nasty.

[Mister Da]

Thanks for the solid info.

We have possums in our back yard at night, usually on the fence. It gives the dog something to bark at. They don’t bother me, so I don’t bother them. Curious creature - vile looking!

I read they don’t live long - 4-5 years max. The article mentioned the possum was large. Perhaps it was old & dying.