Arizona has reported its first detection of New World screwworm (NWS).
The detection is one of five new NWS cases confirmed in the past few days by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), all in pets. Four of the NWS infestations are in dogs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and the other is in a domestic cat in New Mexico—the first case detected in a cat.
There have now been 71 NWS cases in the country since the outbreak began in June. Most have been in cattle and sheep in Texas and New Mexico. Nine cases have been in dogs.
NWS is a parasitic fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) that’s been spreading north from Central America in recent years. When the adult fly lays its eggs in the open wounds or mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals, the larvae feed on the animals’ tissue, causing severe damage. Cases can be fatal if left untreated.
Although state and federal officials are worried primarily about the threat to livestock, pets and wildlife are also at risk of getting infected, especially if they live in areas where NWS has been detected.
Source : umn.edu