For some people, mosquito bites are a problem that won’t go away, even after you’ve moved away from the mosquito breeding grounds. For others, it’s been a non-issue their whole life, but now that they’re retired it seems like every night is a mosquito night, and they’re fed up with the irritating insects. For those who have dogs, the bites can be dangerous – particularly for larger breed dogs – so finding a way to deal with these bloodsuckers has become a priority.
While many mosquito control products claim to be ‘environmentally friendly’, when they’re actually tested, the results are often disastrous. Animals, particularly amphibians, are often affected by the chemicals in these products which end up in their environment.
If you’re worried about the impact that mosquito bites are having on your dogs’ health and well-being, there’s a greener and more sustainable alternative to traditional vector control: test pool water for baylisascaris. This parasite lives in the intestines of mosquitoes and can cause severe disease in dogs – even death. Fortunately, there’s an easy and affordable way to screen for this parasite: the test kit from LabPlus. With this test, you can be sure that the water in your pool is free of baylisascaris worms. Let’s take a closer look at how this test works and the parasites that it detects:
Table of Contents
What Is Baylisascaris?
First things first: let’s discuss what exactly we’re testing for with this particular test. The Baylisascaris parasite is actually a kind of roundworm, which is usually contracted through mosquito bites. The adult parasites live in the gut of mosquitoes, reproducing asexually by laying eggs which eventually hatch into more adult parasites. Luckily, the adult worms only live for a few months in a dog’s body before they die, otherwise they’d be causing a multitude of problems.
If you’re concerned about your dogs’ health and safety, the best course of action would be to eliminate, or at least reduce, the number of mosquitoes around your pool area. You can do this by using bug-eating organisms like fish or crickets, or simply by sealing off the area where the mosquitoes live. While this may not be possible for all homeowners, it’s something you can try.
How Is Baylisascaris Different From Other Parasites?
Other than being environmentally conscious and looking for sustainable ways to reduce your dog’s health issues, why should you be particularly interested in getting a test for baylisascaris? This worm is somewhat different from other types of parasites that affect animals. For starters, this parasite doesn’t usually live in the intestines of humans or other mammals. It usually lives in the guts of mosquitoes; with other types of parasites, when a mosquito consumes an infected animal, the parasite is usually unable to multiply and cause significant damage. This is mainly because other parasites need an intermediate host in order to complete their life cycle. For example, the parasite that causes tapeworms in humans needs another animal (usually a rodent) to complete its life cycle. Since the Baylisascaris worm doesn’t need an intermediate host, it’s able to reproduce quickly and extensively in the mosquito’s gut.
Additionally, dogs and other mammals are usually the primary host of other types of parasites. That is, other animals are usually the ones that are affected by the parasites. While both humans and animals can be affected by, and carry, this worm, it usually causes a greater problem in dogs. The reason being that dogs are usually larger animals with a longer lifespan, which makes them more susceptible to heavy parasite loads. When a dog is infected with a high parasite load, the effects can be devastating. If left untreated, some of the symptoms include fever, nausea, and diarrhea.
How Can This Test Be Useful?
Given the dangers that this parasite can pose to dogs, it’s important to have a way of screening for it. Fortunately, there is a test for this parasite that can be performed at home, so if you’re starting to notice any symptoms, you can confirm the presence of this worm without having to take your dog to the vet. Let’s take a quick look at how this test works and what the results mean:
The Importance Of Early Detection
An important thing to note about this test is that it’s a good idea to perform it as soon as possible. If you know or suspect that your dog has been exposed to mosquitoes, it’s important to get this test as soon as possible, and preferably before your dog has been bitten by any. Unfortunately, if you wait until your dog is showing symptoms of infection, it may be too late to treat the dog and the infection could become worse. It would be best to perform this test as soon as possible, even if the dog shows no signs of infection.
The reason for this is that some dogs are more susceptible to becoming infected with this parasite than others. Some breeds, such as Collies and certain types of pitbulls, are more likely to become infected than others. This is mainly because these breeds more easily develop a thick coat which provides some level of protection from the elements, as well as from biting insects.
The Overall Result
The final and most important thing to note about this test is the overall result. Just because your dog tested negative for baylisascaris doesn’t mean that they’re safe from the parasites. It just means that they haven’t been exposed to them yet. This test is not meant to diagnose an existing infection but rather to determine whether or not your dog has been exposed to these parasites. The way that this test works is by detecting antigens, or proteins, which are released by the parasite as it matures inside the mosquito. Because of this, it’s important to ensure that your dog does not eat any raw meat or drink contaminated water, which could result in a negative result.
To determine the presence of baylisascaris antigens, you should get a positive result from at least two of the following three tests: a blood test, a urine test, or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). If you’re not sure which test is the best one to use, ask your vet or a specialist for advice. A typical result for a blood test would be a high white cell count, with some presence of antibodies against the parasite. The presence of these antibodies would indicate that your dog has been or is currently infected with baylisascaris.
For a more in-depth look at the differences between traditional and organic dog food, check out this article from Blue Earth Natural Foods about the pros and cons of each.