https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/fb425321eca4507a4b9da95e3253eab3.pdf a79160e4d6d12fcbfdc1555f223ab1f6 PDF Text Text Cysticercosis • Cysticercosis is common in most big game species in Colorado and is of low concern when few parasite cysts are present. Species Affected in Colorado • Deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn What to Look For • • Large (~1 inch) fluid-filled cysts, each containing a floating white dot, in the belly or chest (pictured on left) Small (~¼ inch) fluid-filled cysts, each containing a floating white dot, in the muscle tissue (pictured on right) Cause and Transmission The most common parasites encountered by big game hunters in Colorado are the tapeworms Taenia hydatigena and Taenia ovis krabbei. As adults, these worms live in the intestines of wild carnivores such as coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, and bobcats. Feces of these infected carnivores contain tapeworm eggs that are deposited on the ground and Fluid-filled cysts in the omentum (left), and heart (right) of animals with cysticercosis. are eaten by grazing animals such as deer. Inside the deer intestine, immature tapeworms (larvae) hatch out of their eggs and travel to the body cavities (T. hydatigena, left photo) or muscles (T. ovis krabbei, right photo). Larvae eventually form small fluid-filled cysts in these locations. It is the fluid-filled cysts (called cysticerci) that hunters most often encounter. Each cyst contains a floating white dot which is the scolex, or head, of the worm that will grow to maturity in the carnivore host. When the deer is eaten by a carnivore, the life cycle of the worm is complete. Public Health Considerations Cysticercosis does not pose a risk to human health, but may cause intestinal infections if eaten by domestic dogs or cats. Although a few cysts are normal findings in healthy animals, cases of severe infections (30+ cysts observed) may suggest that the animal was ill from some other cause, and the meat may be of poor quality. Proper cooking of meat is always recommended. Always wear gloves and wash hands when handling wildlife, and never consume an animal you observed to be sick or found dead. Additional Information/References Taeniasis and Echinococcosis, in Parasitic Diseases of Wild Mammals (Authors: Arlene Jones and Margo J. Pybus) Rev 12/2016 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fact Sheets Type The nature or genre of the resource Fact Sheet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Description An account of the resource CPW Fact Sheets Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cysticercosis Description An account of the resource Fact sheet: Cysticercosis is common in most big game species in Colorado and is of low concern when few parasite cysts are present. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Colorado Parks and Wildlife Subject The topic of the resource Wildlife diseases Cysticercosis Extent The size or duration of the resource. 1 page Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2016-12 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/">No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Fact Sheet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource English