Latest news with #SamBallard
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Rat lungworm disease alert for dog owners: Here's how to keep your backyard safe for your pet
So here's something that's a little gross but super important for every dog parent to know—rat lungworm disease. It's something your dog could accidentally get just by poking around the backyard. Rat lungworm disease caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasite that starts its journey in rats. Rats poop out the larvae (yes, it's as gross as it sounds), and then snails and slugs come along and eat that poop. Then dogs—doing their usual sniffing, licking, and munching—accidentally eat those infected snails or slugs. Sometimes they just lick toys or bowls that had snail slime on them and get infected. Once inside your pup's body, the larvae can make their way to the brain (yikes), causing all sorts of scary neurological problems like paralysis, weird pain responses, and incontinence. It's rare—but when it hits, it hits hard. Should you be worried? Here's the deal: this disease is still considered rare, but experts are seeing more and more cases in recent years—especially in rainy areas where snails and slugs are thriving like it's their personal party. In fact, researchers in Australia looked at dog cases from 2020 to 2024 and found 93 confirmed infections. The year 2022 had a noticeable spike, thanks to—you guessed it—heavier rains and more slimy critters crawling around. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo What makes this even more important? Dogs are kind of the early warning system for humans. If it's showing up in dogs, it might not be long before people are at risk too. 'There have also been two human deaths from the disease in Australia, including Sydney man Sam Ballard who consumed a slug as a dare in 2010 and reportedly contracted the disease before dying from it in 2018, researchers said,' ABC reported. How does your dog catch it? Honestly, dogs don't have to try that hard. It can happen when they eat a snail or slug while sniffing around the yard, drink water from puddles or bowls that have slug/slime residue, lick their toys or food bowls that have been sitting outside, and accidentally eat contaminated veggies from your garden. In short, they're just being dogs. Signs something's not right The symptoms can be super confusing, so keep an eye out for: Wobbly walking or dragging their hind legs Accidents in the house (urinary incontinence) Weird yelping or flinching at touch Sudden changes in behavior—like being really down, not wanting to eat, or just acting off Vomiting or diarrhea If your pup's showing any of these, don't play the guessing game. Call your vet. How to snail-proof your backyard Okay, you can't bubble-wrap your backyard, but there's a lot you can do to lower the risk: Clear the clutter: Snails and slugs love to hide in wet leaves, piles of wood, or long grass. Clean that stuff up. Keep things tidy: Wash outdoor food and water bowls, toys, or anything else your dog might mouth off. Control rats: No one wants to deal with this, but securing your garbage and keeping food scraps out of the yard can help keep rats away. Watch what they eat: Be that annoying dog parent who's always yelling 'drop it!' when your dog mouths something gross. Be mindful during walks: Slugs love sidewalks after it rains—keep your dog away from slimy trails or puddles. Don't panic—but do pay attention Rat lungworm disease sounds like a nightmare, but the good news is it's still rare, and it's totally preventable if you stay alert. A little yard hygiene and a lot of nosey dog-parenting can go a long way. And if you ever feel like something's off with your dog—especially if they're acting different or having trouble walking—trust your gut and call your vet. Early treatment can make all the difference. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Aussie dog owners on high alert for dangerous parasite spread by slugs
Aussie dog owners should remain on high alert for a dangerous parasitic disease that cause a lethal brain infection in both dogs and humans. Rat lungworm disease is a rare but life-altering infection caused by larvae of the parasitic worms found in feral rats and spread by snails and slugs. University of Sydney veterinary researchers are reporting a rise in cases in Sydney and Brisbane following heavier-than-usual rainfall. Up to 93 cases of rat lungworm have been recorded in the five years to 2024 with the risk of infection highest between two and 10 months after heavy rain. Dogs can become paralysed or die if they eat an infected snail or slug. Two Australians have died from the disease to date, including Sydney rugby player Sam Ballard who died after eating an infected slug as a dare in 2010. Mr Ballard suffered a severe brain infection and fell into a coma for 420 days. He died in 2018, at the age of 28, following an eight-year battle with the disease. 'These snails and slugs, and the infective worm larvae in them, can accidentally be a disease source to us humans and our pet dogs,' researcher Jan Šlapeta said. 'Once in humans or dogs, the worms quickly get to the brain where they cause disease.' People are only at risk if they eat an infected snail or slug, like Mr Ballard did, or consume the slime left behind on lettuce and other raw produce. Most people infected with the disease can recover without treatment over days, weeks and months but for some it can be catastrophic. The disease can cause severe meningitis and in rare instances be fatal. NSW Health has advised Australians wash fresh produce before eating and to wash their hands after gardening or handling snails or slugs. There have been 28 human cases between 1971 and 2018, and most people were infected from eating unwashed lettuce or vegetables. The mortality rate was 18 per cent, 14 per cent suffered long-term neurological issues and 57 per cent made a full recovery.
The Age
2 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Deadly ‘rat lungworm' on the rise in Sydney, experts warn
Infections by a parasitic worm carried by rats, snails and slugs that can cause lethal brain infections in humans are increasing in dogs on Australia's east coast, a Sydney study has found. Rat lungworm is an extremely rare but potentially fatal disease caused by larvae of the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, which is found naturally in feral rats after it spread to Australia from South-East Asia. Infection causes dangerous inflammation in the brain. 'In dogs and humans the parasite enters the brain, but rather than progressing to the lungs like it does in rats, it is killed in the brain by our own immune response,' said Phoebe Rivory, who has submitted her PhD thesis on the disease to the Sydney School of Veterinary Science. 'It is that overt immune response that causes severe headaches and sensations.' Dogs and humans are considered accidental hosts but infection can be disastrous. At least two people have died from rat lungworm, including Sam Ballard, who ate a slug as a dare in 2010. The Sydney man contracted the parasite and entered a coma for 420 days; he emerged from it with severe brain injuries before he died in 2018. The researchers analysed five years of data and discovered 93 cases of rat lungworm in dogs around Sydney and Brisbane. There has been an increasing number of cases since 2010, 'suggesting escalating human health threats', they write in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. live in Sydney.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Deadly ‘rat lungworm' on the rise in Sydney, experts warn
Infections by a parasitic worm carried by rats, snails and slugs that can cause lethal brain infections in humans are increasing in dogs on Australia's east coast, a Sydney study has found. Rat lungworm is an extremely rare but potentially fatal disease caused by larvae of the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, which is found naturally in feral rats after it spread to Australia from South-East Asia. Infection causes dangerous inflammation in the brain. 'In dogs and humans the parasite enters the brain, but rather than progressing to the lungs like it does in rats, it is killed in the brain by our own immune response,' said Phoebe Rivory, who has submitted her PhD thesis on the disease to the Sydney School of Veterinary Science. 'It is that overt immune response that causes severe headaches and sensations.' Dogs and humans are considered accidental hosts but infection can be disastrous. At least two people have died from rat lungworm, including Sam Ballard, who ate a slug as a dare in 2010. The Sydney man contracted the parasite and entered a coma for 420 days; he emerged from it with severe brain injuries before he died in 2018. The researchers analysed five years of data and discovered 93 cases of rat lungworm in dogs around Sydney and Brisbane. There has been an increasing number of cases since 2010, 'suggesting escalating human health threats', they write in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. live in Sydney.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Researchers uncover spike in potentially fatal 'rat lungworm disease'
Researchers are warning dog owners to be vigilant as a new study reveals a wet weather-driven spike in a potentially fatal disease. Rat lungworm disease is caused by a parasite and is generally picked up by dogs after eating infected slugs and snails. Dogs can die from an infection or be left paralysed if it isn't treated. There have also been two human deaths from the disease in Australia, including Sydney man Sam Ballard who consumed a slug as a dare in 2010 and reportedly contracted the disease before dying from it in 2018, researchers said. A team at the University of Sydney has confirmed at least 93 positive cases of the disease, otherwise known as canine neural angiostrongyliasis, across the country over a four-year-period from 2020 to 2024. Cases peaked at 32 in 2022, which coincided with a La Nina event, and they found hotspots in both Brisbane and Sydney. Lead author Phoebe Rivory said that's likely the "tip of the iceberg" and many more cases were likely both undiagnosed and untested. "The main findings were that we saw a strong relationship between the number of cases and rainfall," Dr Rivory said. "That makes sense, as you know, when you see lots of rain coming down, all these slugs and snails from your garden will emerge. "We also saw a relationship with prior rainfall, indicating some priming of the environment. You know more vegetation, lusher gardens." Researchers said it was likely Brisbane and Sydney recorded higher rates of the disease than elsewhere due to their similar climates. They said high rates of pet ownership and access to emergency care also contributed to sample bias. According to Jan Šlapeta from the University of Sydney's School of Veterinary Science, who also worked on the study, the invasive parasite rat lungworm was introduced to Australia from South-East Asia sometime after World War II. As the name suggests, it's carried by rats but also by slugs and snails, which act as intermediary hosts after consuming rat faeces. Professor Šlapeta described it as an "interesting" parasite because when it jumps to a host animal like a dog or a human, it travels directly to the brain, where it is killed. It is then the immune response that can cause "serious headaches", and, in some cases, death. He said the first reports of the disease were made in Brisbane in the 1990s and in Sydney in the early 2000s. But prior to the recent study, no-one had set out to identify how prevalent the disease was. It was thanks to a recent development in testing techniques that the team was able to do so. The study proved it was, and with climate change likely to bring more wet weather, the researchers believe those numbers will only increase. Professor Šlapeta said his aim was not to be alarmist, but rather to increase awareness about the disease for dog owners, particularly during high-risk periods like during heavy rain. In particular, he said it was vital owners knew to keep their pets, especially young "inquisitive" dogs, away from slugs and snails and stop them from eating them. Dr Rivory said simple tips that could help pet owners included washing outdoor water bowls. For some reason, cats aren't at risk of contracting the disease, she said. If a dog is infected, it may not start showing any symptoms for a "good couple of weeks", Dr Rivory said. Then, symptoms might include paralysis, especially of the hind legs, or pain in the spine. "They [may] get wobbly or non-functioning hind legs, because it kind of progresses from the rea to the front," she said. Other signs might include confusion or fatigue. Treatments are available if the dog is taken to the vet and treated early. Veterinarian Sasha Miles from the Unusual Pet Vets on the Sunshine Coast agreed early detection was key, as by the time it led to paralysis, it was often too late to do anything about it. "I think … it would be unlikely that they would make a full recovery … I think euthanasia would be on the table," she said. She said other symptoms to look out for in dogs included a cough and muscle weakness. Dr Miles hadn't treated the condition in dogs, but has seen it in some species of birds. She agreed with taking preventative measures like daily washing water bowls with detergent and ensuring aviaries were snail and slug-proof for birds. "And I guess just if it's been raining heaps … supervising your animal and … looking around the back garden for snails and slugs and if they are there then not letting the pet out in that area," Dr Miles said.
