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From: laura@manta.uucp (Laura Toms)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,rec.pets
Subject: Re: Fleas Transmit Tapeworms ???
Message-ID: <1990Jul19.095851.25926@manta.uucp>
Date: 19 Jul 90 09:58:51 GMT
References: <31860@cup.portal.com>
Reply-To: laura@manta.MorningStar.Com (Laura Toms)
Organization: at home in Dublin, Ohio
Lines: 23

In article <31860@cup.portal.com> mmm@cup.portal.com (Mark Robert Thorson) writes:
>In today's San Jose Mercury-News (7/18), an article about fleas
>mentions they can transmit tapeworms.  Is that really true?  I thought
>tapeworms were transmitted by contact with fecal material.  I think
>they're confusing tapeworms with some other kind of worm (heartworms?).

Yes, it's true.  From the _Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook_:

    "Dogs can acquire several different kinds of tapeworm.  One is due
    to eating uncooked meat or discarded animal parts.  Another is
    acquired by eating raw fresh fist.  Commonly, the disease is 
    transmitted by the flea.  The dog must bite or swallow the flea
    which harbors the immature tapeworms in its intestine.  Fleas 
    acquire the parasite by eating tapeworm eggs."

Heatworm is transmitted by mosquitos; other types of worms can be 
transmitted through contact with fecal matter.  
-- 
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= Laura Toms, laura@manta.MorningStar.com                  (614) 766-6287 =
= 5151 Brand Road, Dublin, Ohio 43017                   Moraine Labradors =
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