Viruses found in Tree Squirrels

[Diggie's Friend]

West Nile Virus

I have often wondered about the transmission issue, as here in California there have been outbreaks in birds, and small mammals including tree squirrels.


WNV in the USA since 1999.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/4/pdfs/03-0499.pdf

https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/Wildlife-RelatedDiseases/Pages/WestNileVirus.aspx


Chief vector species is birds, commonly American crows.


Birds with West Nile Virus often show neurological signs including loss of coordination, head tilt, tremors, weakness, and lethargy.

http://www.ufrgs.br/imunovet/molecular_immunology/pathoviruses_WNV.html

According to present research findings:


Humans and other mammals don't seem to carry enough of the virus in their blood to pass it along to birds or other animals through mosquitoes, so if you have a mosquito that only bites mammals, there is no transmission to humans.


despite there is no evidence that a person can get infected by handling live or dead infected birds, it is not inconceivable that WNV could be transmitted via wounds and abrasions.

[Diggie's Friend]

West Nile Virus (WNV) & other Encephalitic Viruses

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1939863/


Evidence of WNV infection in tree squirrels in the United States has been reported from at least 11 other states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming).


In addition to providing a sampling method for WNV, these results indicated that at least half of all tree squirrels sampled shed WNV in their oral secretions.


In addition to WNV, at least six other encephalitic viruses have been detected in North American tree squirrels, such as LaCrosse virus (LACV), California virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), eastern equine encephalitis virus, and Powassan virus (POWV).

Tested, yet not confirmed to be a vector species for WNV; care should be taken when handling tree squirrels to cover your arms and hands to protect from flea and tic bites that potentially may carry this or other viral diseases and/or bacterial infections.


Recent accounts indicate that fox squirrels and eastern gray squirrels can develop central nervous system lesions and virus has been detected in kidney, brain, and heart tissue

In rodent research, PYC has been confirmed to reach these vital organs of the body in rodents.

Pycnogenol has been found to lower the incidence of the replication of some viruses (HIV, Hep-C, Viral Myocarditis in rodents.

http://www0.nih.go.jp/JJID/61/279.pdf

The "Watson's study compared the effects of a Pycnogenol supplement versus no supplement in mice either infected with the murine retrovirus (the equivalent of mouse HIV), fed alcohol, or both. The pycnogenol restored activity of natural killer cells, which go on seek-and-destroy missions for virus-infected cells. This is especially beneficial because depressed natural killer cell activity often leads to a rapid progression from HIV to full-blown AIDS."

Though presently there is no medically approved treatment for WNV, the use of Pycnogenol in tree squirrels, especially when other possible causes have been eliminated, should be considered.

[frankc]

West Nile Virus (WNV) & other Encephalitic Viruses

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1939863/







Tested, yet not confirmed to be a vector species for WNV; care should be taken when handling tree squirrels to cover your arms and hands to protect from flea and tic bites that potentially may carry this or other viral diseases and/or bacterial infections.



In rodent research, PYC has been confirmed to reach these vital organs of the body in rodents.

Pycnogenol has been found to lower the incidence of the replication of some viruses (HIV, Hep-C, Viral Myocarditis in rodents.

http://www0.nih.go.jp/JJID/61/279.pdf

The "Watson's study compared the effects of a Pycnogenol supplement versus no supplement in mice either infected with the murine retrovirus (the equivalent of mouse HIV), fed alcohol, or both. The pycnogenol restored activity of natural killer cells, which go on seek-and-destroy missions for virus-infected cells. This is especially beneficial because depressed natural killer cell activity often leads to a rapid progression from HIV to full-blown AIDS."

Though presently there is no medically approved treatment for WNV, the use of Pycnogenol in tree squirrels, especially when other possible causes have been eliminated, should be considered.

This is really scary !!! What next ???? Thank You so much for posting this. Now we all have a new battle and one more thing to worry about for our babies Wow. :tap

[Diggie's Friend]

Not new topic actually, viruses are all over the place. Better to know about them, and how to prevent them, which adding Pycnogenol to the diet (prophylactic) daily supports.