There are many similarities between human and animal diseases.
Many are caused by virus, fungus or bacteria. And when a new
disease mysteriously appears, lots of questions follow.
There are many similarities between human and animal diseases. Many are caused by virus, fungus or bacteria. And when a new disease mysteriously appears, lots of questions follow.
Current news reports are full of stories about SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. This disease appears to be caused by an infectious virus, perhaps a mutation of a common cold virus.
This aggressive infection has the entire world on edge. How fast can it continue its spread? How many people might die from its effects? These questions have parts of our world nearly paralyzed with fear.
Many large cities have felt the effects of SARS. Business and pleasure travel are dramatically down as reports of infection outbreaks range from China to Toronto to our own Santa Clara Valley. Airlines and other parts of the hospitality industry are reeling from the economic impact generated by the fear of this disease. This is further bad news for an already depressed economy. But above all, we fear for our health and well-being.
The veterinary world faced a similar epidemic outbreak in the late 1970s. And much the same fear and trepidation was present then. The disease then was Parvovirus, a viral infection that causes severe gastrointestinal disease and sudden death in dogs. When Parvo first appeared in this country, it spread like wildfire. Many dog breeders were devastated by their losses – some lost almost all their dogs. Panic best described the mood of that era.
I was a student in veterinary school when Parvovirus first appeared. At first, there was no name given to it. All we knew was that this unknown disease was a deadly killer. Whole litters of puppies were dying, many by sudden, unexplained cardiac failure. Most developed symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting before they died. But some died from acute heart failure, with absolutely no warning signs.
The mortality rate of this disease, the percentage of those infected that died, was well over 50 percent in some areas.
At first, the veterinary profession was caught by surprise by this epidemic. At the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, whole litters of puppies were brought in as the pups expired one-by-one. And we wondered how long it would take to find a way to control this infection.
An organized medical approach eventually helped overcome the threat. The first goal of medical management with a new epidemic is to attempt to isolate the disease … to keep those infected away from those that are susceptible. This is being done today for the SARS outbreak. Areas in the Far East and even Toronto have undergone quarantine procedures in an effort to prevent further spread. In addition the virus is being studied to determine if an effective vaccine can be developed to give people protection and prevent future outbreaks.
Much the same was done with canine Parvovirus. Quick research studies showed that Parvovirus was somewhat similar to the virus that caused feline Panleukopenia, or feline distemper. Before a Parvo vaccine could be produced, many veterinarians used kitty-cat vaccine on their canine patients to give them some protection. The cat vaccine reportedly helped dogs develop immunity, and it quickly became scarce in some locations as practitioners used it to vaccinate their clients’ dogs.
Finally, with good management and with the development of an effective canine vaccine, Parvovirus became less of a concern. Today, it is controlled by an excellent vaccine protocol used by most veterinarians. But even today, veterinarians advise new puppy owners to avoid public places with a furry friend. Young, unvaccinated dogs can still die from this infection. Prophylaxis (puppy vaccination) is imperative.
We all hope that in a short time, the SARS infection can be effectively controlled. With an organized approach and good research, this disease will eventually be made less dangerous and SARS will be just another part of medical history.
Q: How can I keep my lizard, Rex, from biting guests? He does it so often it’s starting to become an every day thing with him.
A: Yours is a common problem and one that may be difficult to overcome. Some lizards and reptiles are not easily domesticated. Many never really get over their fear when they are handled, especially when strangers pick them up. This fear is probably not something that can be “trained” out of Rex. He would need to learn that he is not in danger before he would stop biting. And unfortunately, he may never understand that your friends are not a threat to him. By the sounds of it, he probably is easily frightened.
For Rex’s peace-of-mind and for the safety of your guests, I would suggest you keep him to yourself and let your friends look, but not touch.
