Otters show disease could be in our riversFor the first time scientists have shown that the disease Toxoplasmosis is widespread in animals found in the UK's water systems. If the disease is common in our rivers it could mean that humans are at a high risk of infection.The researchers conducted post mortems on dead otters - mostly road-kills - found around England and Wales to assess whether any of the animals contained antibodies for the disease, which is caused by the parasite
Toxoplasmosis Gondii. The scientists were surprised to find almost half of the otters examined had been exposed to the disease - a high rate of prevalence considering otters eat fish, which don't carry the parasite.
'40 per cent were carrying antibodies for the disease, although
Toxoplasmosis was never shown to be the cause of death. This is higher than we might have expected given their mainly fish diet,' says Dr Elizabeth Chadwick of Cardiff University, lead author on the study.
'On the other hand it may be that otters are being infected by cysts in the water containing a reproductive form of the parasite - the oocysts. If otters are picking it up directly from water it suggests there is an environmental risk to humans, as current screening and water treatments don't get rid of oocysts.'The parasite can only complete its life cycle and produce oocysts when it is hosted by a cat. The oocysts can enter the cat's faeces and eventually, either from people flushing cat litter down their toilets, or from the faecal matter draining off of gardens and streets, get into our waterways.
