Hydatid tapeworm

[cougerking]

hey guys i just got the recent feathers and fur magazine...
it has this article about foxes in it that you might be interested in so here goes.

for those that dont know the hydatid tapeworm is a microscopic organism that can potentially make you very sick with disease or even cause death!

the person that wrote this is a doctor that is also a hunter i beleive.
the reason he writes is because of the recent victoria fox and dog bounty.
according to his facts, over 30% of all foxes carry the tapeworm eggs on their pelt and dogs are equal or more.
hydatid tapeworm eggs shed in the animals droppings and can be transfered to humans.
these microscopic eggs if present have a sticky coating which makes it easy to adhere to your hands and/or clothing. when halndleing the animal, go to all lengths not to let the fur come into contact with your skin or clothing. the eggs can later transfer from you habds or clothing to your mouth ect. also if you have them on your clothes, when you or your partner thakes them to the washing machine, they can be transfered to them that easy!!!
the article says you should prepare a container with water and a little bit of detergent in it before skinning. then wear latex rubber gloves. once you have skun the animal, wash your nife in the container. then take your gloves off and put them on the ground(not touching the outside of them).
next, get a freezer bag and use it like a glove to pick up your scalp and turn the bag inside out and tie a knot in it. then put it into a second bag and tie it off. do the same with the gloves on the ground.
just common sense.
the mag suggests that you should vizulise that the pelt is covered in thick black soot. the aim is to not get anyover that soot nto your hands or clothing or boots ect.

sorry its long but i beleive this is a pretty serious issue...how many of you guys knew about this? i sure as hell diddnt!

anywat good luck!!;)

cheers,
ck

[troy]

Own any dogs cougerking? If so you should know about worms in general, no just tapeworms. Do not touch your mutts then do anything else but wash your hands, you will get worms. Some are worse than others such as the tapeworm but none are to good for you. Even if you're very careful, reguarly worm yourself and your family if you have exposure to dogs and cats for that matter, on a regular basis. The damage these parasites can cause can be lethal, as you said.

[cougerking]

yer we got one family dog...and yer he gets wormed aswell as we get the tablet things every now and then...diddnt now bout the fox though and how common it is...hmm

[howie]

Darn good info boys, many thanks.........Howie

[jindydiver]

One important thing about hydatid is that there are no drugs to cure humans of infection. The only way to remove the cysts as they appear in your body is through surgery. Obviously the best thing is to prevent infection in the first place.

[cutthroat]

I have just finished watching some hunting dvds where the fellows were getting
up close and personal with the foxes and pigs and had the blood of the animals
all over their hands.I know it isn't manly to wear surgical gloves but it might protect them from hydatid and that blood poison that is transferred from pigs.
Just my two cents worth.