Rat Lungworm Disease - Killer in the Garden

The Rat Lungworm Disease and its potentially fatal affects have recently come to light, following the ingestion of garden snails or slugs which may carry the parasite, or by coming in contact with their trail of slime.

This story of a drunken prank was the first that appeared to alert us in Australia of this disease when a young man on a dare ate a slug and ended up fighting for his life.

Now in the news, are stories of children crawling around the garden who contracted the disease died shortly after. Unfortunately it took an autopsy to discover the cause as being the parasite which had travelled its way inside the child's brain.

These are typical case scenarios of the Rat Lungwork Disease:

1. It can be fatal if left undetected and not treated.
   
   
2. If not detected early enough, the parasite worm can work its way to and into the brain, affecting the person. If treated at this stage, the person (such as that young man who ate a slug for a dare) will survive, but will never be what they once were.
   
   
3. If detected early enough, a person can be treated and not suffer adverse affects.

What is the trail for this disease?
Rats are the natural carriers of the disease. Snails and slugs which eat rat feces also become carriers.

Humans can become hosts by ingesting a snail or slug which is a carrier, or by coming in contact with its slime.

So it makes common sense to always wash before using and eating any garden/farm produce. And the same if coming in contact with a snail or slug as a precaution.

Not meaning to unduly cause alarm, do take care. Particularly if you have children who enjoy crawling around the garden. Research this disease for yourself so you know what to look out for.


LS

LS

 

you would have to eat the rat and lots of it in order for the parasite to take hold. just like if a human is infected you cant catch it from them. the snail or slug fertilizes the eggs so a tiny bit of slime from an infected can cause production of the embryo in you blood stream. however you do have a natural immunity to the worms but is not very strong. so a tiny bit will infect you but not kill you. unless of cores the worms win the war over your brain.

why did you post this

i touched a slug the other day. eewwww

 

Hi sopheatia - your comments are valid. I’m not an alarmist, nor do I have time for such persons.

I found the news story on this video link quite alarming, particularly since I do a lot of gardening, not always wearing gloves. Since we have had a lot of rain lately, I disposed of numerous snails and slugs I encountered - always thoroughly washing my hands of the repulsive slime after if I wasn't wearing gloves.

I saw this as a valid story to pass on and as I stated in my earlier post, for the reader to research themselves.

For those who cannot access the above link to the website with the video of the news story, this transcript link has the same news story for you to read.

I've never heard of the disease until seeing that story yesterday evening which I found quite alarming. Hence my warning.

Simply put, hygiene is a good precaution and practice - washing hands after contact and farm/garden produce before consumption, because there is no way of knowing if any parasites have been transmitted.

Cheers

LS

Hi Gloozit! Check out the video or read the transcript I’ve imbedded in the above post responding to sopheatia comments.

My understanding is that the disease is transferred by the feces of rats which contains the parasites in question. Those snails and slugs which eat the rat’s feces also become carriers.

The video/transcript above explains it better than I can.

My Post was simply to put a warning out and not to unduly alarm readers.

Cheers
LS

 

yes, that video was a relief

" I've never heard of the disease until seeing that story yesterday evening which I found quite alarming "

i never herd of them either till today

but i did research a while back on a parasite that i saw on discovery. very similar except it didn't effect humans. the parasite wold lay eggs threw the rabbit droppings and a snail would run over the eggs. then an ant would eat the snail. which the parasite would then take control over the brain of the ant and cause the ant to march to the top of a blade of grass, until a rabbit comes and eats it. thus continuing the proses. vary interesting stuff

 

Apparently this disease is not widely known. I believe there was a 2009 report of an occurrence in Hawaii from eating vegetables containing the infected larvae. One person ended up in a coma.

In 2010 we had that Australian story of the drunken prank. But only recently did the eventual outcome and condition of that unfortunate young man come to light - as shown in the video link I attached earlier.

:eek as Gloozit noted, pretty much sums up this news story.


LS

 

Good info to know LS. One more reason for me not to start that garden I thought about last year. :-D

 

Yep, gastropods, (like snails & slugs) are common vectors for parasites. Most don't effect humans, but a few do and a very few can be fatal if left untreated.
There's a parasite that partly takes over the mind, of all things. In humans, it makes them reckless and impulsive, and in rats and mice, it makes them not afraid of cats. So they get eaten and the cycle continues. ...And in the U.S. at least - it isn't uncommon! Humans normally get it from contact with cat's litter boxes, etc.uke

 

Bah! Cut a drink can in half, bury it flush with the earth and almost fill it with some cheap beer, like a Colt 45.uke. To bad you have to do this on a daily basis.

Anyways, I'd worry more if there was a cattle farm nearby and critters infecting your veggies with e-coli 0157:H7. At any rate, our food supply is the best it's ever been, just need to know what's going on is all.

 

No way Augie, for my health and safety, I am not going to do more yard work. It is for my safety, not out of any hint of laziness. :-D

 

...or sexy women and or both!:-D

Please ladies, don't write me as men do get stupid when seeing a sexy woman! Especially those with a lot of testosterone running through their veins. :-D Just look at the politicos these days. Even the GOP'ers aren't immune! roflmao

 

Que Homer Simpson voice... HMMM BEER!!! :-D

 

LOLYou guys still crack me up. Good to see you maintain a sense of humour, regardless of the topic.

Cheers

LS

G’day Fred! That garden spoken of years back still hasn’t been started?! Still finding excuses, huh?LOL

Cheers

LS

:-DI’m not familiar with your gardening strategy suggestion to Fred and wonder what it produces?

As for contamination of food supply, not being an expert in this area, I do expect there would have to be government standards with fines if not adhered to for farming areas and those supplying produce.

Regardless, I still make a practice of washing all farmed products given the number of processes, hands, travel and manner of storage conditions I expect it passes through before I bring it home.

Cheers

LS

Wow! Never heard of that type of parasite. I always wear gloves when changing my cat’s litter box before disinfecting and hosing it clean. Guess its common sense to maintaining proper hygiene with anything and areas that have potential for contamination.

Thanks Phantom!

Cheers

LS

:-D Seems no matter what the topic, it turns to liquid with you Guys!LOL

Augie, you’re just as mad as ever.

Question time:

1. When you refer to those women “with a lot of testosterone”, are you referring to those with standard hormone replacement therapy?
   Or
2. Are you referring to your Canadian Governor General and our Prime Minister – both being women? :-D
3. And what the heck are “GOP’ers”?:confused

I can only speak Anglais!:-o

Cheers

LS

 

"G’day Fred! That garden spoken of years back still hasn’t been started?! Still finding excuses, huh?

Cheers

LS"

Goodness, it is for the safety of the children that I don't garden. rolleyes:-D

 

[QUOTE="legalsuit]I’m not familiar with your gardening strategy suggestion to Fred and wonder what it produces?[/QUOTE] The slugs are attracted to the beer, take a few sips and fall into the container.

#1) I meant men with high levels.
#2) See #1
#3) GOP'ers are usually religious Republican Americans, I won't go further as explaining this one gets into politics. A joke is one thing but this...

I will remember to not ever use local language with you, I'm sure you could easily confuddle me with some of your Aussie speak.:-D

 

Yep, G.O.P. in American politics usually referrs to the Grand Old Party, (Republicans).

Beer doesn't make one impulsive and reckless - just when consumed by impulsive and reckless stoopid people, i.m.o. As for "sexy women" having that effect - I have no idea on that!, LoL!:-o
But like men, snails love beer soaked newspapers. Makes them go unconscious and droooown...LoL! (Like some men, I guess!) LOL

For those that think I might be talking B.S. on the "mind control parasite" thing - It is called Toxoplasmosis and is very common.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis

So, jokes aside - it may account for a lot of wacky people out there :confused. (Or like me, you may be just an eccentric old geezer, eh )


As for women with a lot of Testosterone. I get kinda skeered when dealing with "women who shave", (as in faces - not legs!)......My reaction is usually....:eek .roflmao

 

That's quite an eye opener on toxoplasmasmosis as dopamine is a very powerful brain agent!

As to the rest Ghostie, roflmao

 

Uh huh!roflmao I can just see that "angelic" expression as you responded...

 

Okay...you mean something like in this link? I actually feel sorry for the poor sodden critter...LOL...mustn't laugh...roflmao

:confused "...men with high levels"? Ahh! Of course! You mean high heels - something like our iconic Carlotta's troupe of "ladies" shown here in this link!

:-D Yeah, English tends to vary demographically...I even have problems sometimes understanding Aussies from our country regions!:-:-o

 

Thanks for your explanations Phantom, it's kinda frightening when explored in depth as you provided.:eek

As to "women who shave...faces...", not sure regarding your reaction if you encountered one of these "ladies", with their looks, it would be easy not to notice...LOL

 

It is for the children LS, honest, I am not lazy! :-D

 

mY GAWD, YOUTUBE DOES HAVE EVERYTHING!roflmao

I'll stay away from the high heels one.:-D

 

Even Lithuanians(my heritage) enjoy getting a slug drunk, just like themselves. Duok alaus(give him beer)!:-D Darn hard to understand them though, almost sounds like a different language. *sigh*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI6wYklMMn0

 

roflmao "Your" slug looks to be a two sip drunk compared to mine! Those guys pouring the beer seemed to be as tipsy as the slug with their stagger:-D

Wonder if the French do something similar for "Marinated Escargot"? Perhaps the more creative chef would leave a trail of liquor to a herb garden for seasonng.LOL

Does wine have the same effect or are snails only enticed by beer?

If it were an Aussie chef, albeit after getting the snail drunk, he would probably throw it on the "Barbie" (BBQ) for the Aussie version of Escargot.

 

Ya man, I tells ya, it was this big. Rotten luck gloozit.

 

Overall, the disease and the manner the parasite imbeds itself is quite disgusting, in particular if seeing it on video.:eek

However, I found the story to be good in respect to making people aware of the potential danger. (i.e.Only those snails which are carriers posing a possible danger.)

As for eating snails...Escargot same as Frogs Legs as you're already aware is French cuisine. Guess snails and frogs aren't too happy either about being on anybody's menu either. I'll bet France is one place they would want to avoid...

 

Like Augie expressed...musta been a pretty Big fish!

Are "sturgeons" common to your area?

 

I tried eating snails, if one doesn't know Quebec is a clone of France, even if they don't want to admit it. I tried snails done by a good cook and they were squishy and sandy. I hate fresh oysters too though I love them cooked/smoked.:yum

 

Hmmm. I've eaten Escargot (in this instance I prefer to use the French cuisine name for snails - because where I had eaten them, they were not the common garden variety). They were delightful - not squishy and sandy, but more with a very light meaty texture cooked in the typical light garlic and butter sauce.

Also tried Frogs Legs at the same French restaurant...tasted like a tender white meat (no, not chicken:-D)...but with the sauce it came in, kinda hard to really say what it was like...quite enjoyed that entre.

Also tried crocodile and kangaroo.

Having now tried them, it has satisfied my curiosity. I enjoy food without wanting to experiment in that direction. It is enough eating some foods in foreign countries in order to be courteous to your hostuke

 

I prefer sturgeon stories instead of icky slugs!uke