Dog killing parasite 'liver fluke' found in Colorado river

A dog-killing parasite known as "liver fluke" has been found in the Colorado River that passes through southern California, Fox News reported.

Since 2019, one dog has died and 11 other cases have been reported from three different counties across California.

The deadly flatworm "Heterobilharzia Americana" causes canine schistosomiasis, which attacks a dog's liver and intestines.

The worm is produced by a type of snail found in the river. After exiting the snail, the worm can survive for up to 24 hours on its own. However, if a dog or a raccoon is in the water or drinking from it, it can attach itself to it, infecting the other.

Once infected, the parasite enters the dog's intestinal linings, laying eggs in there and multiplying itself, and can travel into the lungs, spleen, heart, and liver.

According to Nematologist Adler Dillman, "The immune system tries to deal with it, and hard clusters of immune cells called granulomas form, however, eventually the organ tissues stop functioning."

Sharing some symptoms, Dr Emily Beeler said, "Symptoms start gradually with a loss of appetite, and eventually include vomiting, diarrhoea, profound weight loss, and signs of liver disease."

The parasite was discovered after a team of researchers heard about the infected dogs who had been swimming in the river.

Researchers studied the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of both, the snail and the worm, and the findings have been published in the Journal of Pathogens. Up to 2,000 samples of the worm have been taken for further investigation.

Although the worm does not infect humans, it can cause "swimmer rash". People have been advised not to drink water from rivers.