----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 9:20
PM
Subject: Re: Opossums a vector for
FeVL?
No, she's dead wrong. She's a HORSE person, and
that explains her instant dread of possums and her thinking of them as vectors
of disease, BUT, that's because possums are THE MAIN CAUSE of EPM, a very
insidious disease in horses that affects their spinal cord, eventually leading
to uncontrollable nervous systems, causing horses to fall over, trip, and have
general uncontrollable coordination.
However, I did find a good webpage, with
info you could share with her, so that she can FIX the problem and not just be
a crazy knee-jerking idiot next time:
Answer: Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a
neurological disorder caused by a parasite. The opossum and a parasite called
Sarcocystis neurona have been implicated although current research
suggests other hosts and other parasites may be involved in disease
transmission. The infective form of the parasite is passed in the feces. If a
horse eats contaminated feces then it could develop neurological signs. It
should be noted that the majority of opossums are probably not shedding the
infective parasite and that of the horses exposed to the parasite, very few
will develop EPM.
There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of
EPM. Keeping all animals away from horses is advised. Do not kill or trap
opossums. This will not work. Unless you remove what is attracting opossums
and other animals to your yard then more animals will come. The best thing to
do is to encourage animals to leave the area on their own by removing the
attractants. This is usually food. Do not leave food outside. Do not leave
food for the barn cats at night. Feed cats during the day. Cover garbage cans.
Pick up fallen fruit. Cover horses feed and grain bins. Do not allow horse to
feed off the ground. Place feed in troughs above the ground. Change water
frequently. Remove animal hiding places such as dense shrubs and
woodpiles.
Phaewryn
-----
Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 9:44 PM
Subject: Opossums a vector for FeVL?
People tease me about my "pet possums"...they
like to climb one of the big climbing roses, hang out on the front
porch and eat cat food. I give them bananas and cheese and they are so
tame that I can pet them. I have three generations - including
this years babies. (I've probably told the story of contacting the
National Opossum Society to make sure they weren't sick or something...sent
pics...talked over an hour...etc).
I regularly email one of my vet tech's -
and I sent her a picture of one of the possums. She totally grossed
out LOL They are really very sweet creatures though -
truly. The vet tech has 12 horses though and is very
'anti-possum'. She's a first rate vet-tech though and I very much
value her skill and opinion. Today she told me - "you DO know don't
you that possums are a vector for leukemia?". No - I did not know
that...and as much as I respect and admire her...I'm not sure I believe
it. Anyone else heard of such a thing? It just doesn't make
sense to me...isn't this strictly a feline disease? She said they were
a major vector for rabies too - and while that may be true..the people at
the National Opossum society would beg to differ with her.
I totally don't know -- but thankfully,
ignorance is curable.
I do like this vet tech though...she
overheard my conversation with the receptionist this morning when I called
about Antonio. The receptionist said it was "probably nothing"...but
this vet tech said, "If Miss Trent says there's something wrong with one of
her cats --- then there is something wrong with one of her cats". That
made me feel good. She said I was very intuitive about my babies but
I'm not so sure because if I were then I would have gotten Antonio to the
vet sooner.
elizabeth
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