is it true that beavers carry some sort of disease that a human can get by coming in contact with them?

December 30, 2008 | By admin In Infectious Diseases |
human disease
Zack

someone was telling me about this but i dont know if its true

Diabetes Guide

3 Comments so far

  1. pimpster spitty (spitchus) on January 2nd, 2009

    Giardiasis, the proper medical term for beaver fever, is an disease caused by Giardia lamblia, a one-celled, microscopic parasite protozoa found in stagnant waters where animals, like beavers and muskrats, have been excreting. Technically, you get beaver fever from beaver crap. If you are dumb enough to go swimming in the stagnant waters usually found around beaver dams, Hepatitis A, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Cryptosporidium are also possible choices on your infection menu. Drinking water from contaminated sources is the most common initial infection route. This disease, while more common in the habitats of the beaver, be they of either the North American (Castor canadensis) or the European (Castor fiber) variety, is found all over the world. It is the most common cause of waterborne disease in humans in North America. Giardia cysts, the infectious stage of the parasite, are surprisingly resistant to bleach, and can only be reliably killed by boiling suspect water.

    After infection, Giardia can also be found in the waste of infected people and some domestic animals, both farm and household pets. Hunting dogs are a very common infection vector. It spreads by hand-to-mouth transfer of the parasite. A person who is infected may not know they are passing the infection on to others because they may not have any symptoms. Infection rates seem to peak at the end of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.

    What happens when you catch beaver fever? All sorts of unpleasantness. Like any good parasitic infection, Giardia takes up residence in the gastrointestinal tract where it germinates from the swallowed cysts, reproduces, and causes illness. After feeding, the parasites form new cysts, which are then passed in the faeces. The associated fever is the body’s response to the presence of outside organisms in the stomach and bowel. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, gas, malaise, chills, headache, a low grade fever, dehydration and weight loss are the most common symptoms caused by Giardia. These symptoms usually surface six to 16 days after the initial contact and can continue as long as one month. Occasionally, symptoms last longer.

  2. Amy Feckalot suspended again! on January 4th, 2009

    dear god i didn’t know spitty was so smart. i had my beaver check disease free!

  3. Vick (In Da Clink) on January 5th, 2009

    I hope not. I was hoping to stuff one for Amy later.

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