Lake's toxic algae might be killing pets in Ohio, other states affected by blue green algae too

At least 3 dogs dead, 9 humans ill

Thursday, July 29, 2010 09:44 PM
www.dispatch.com The Columbus Dispatch
By Caitlin McGlade and Spencer Hunt

State and local health officials are investigating reports that at least nine people have become ill and at least three dogs have died after coming in contact with the toxic blue-green algae choking Grand Lake St. Marys, Ohio.

Dan Jenkins, 43, was hospitalized last Thursday through Sunday and is still recovering at his Celina home, family members said today. Laura Jenkins said her husband started complaining of fatigue and numbness after he found the family Labrador retriever, Casey, swimming in the lake on July 15.

Mr. Jenkins washed a "thick, green sludge" off the dog's fur.

Casey died Sunday and was buried before a necropsy could be performed to determine a specific cause of death. Officials are awaiting toxicology results for another dog, a 16-year-old rat terrier named Kenzie.

The dog washed up on a Grand Lake St. Marys beach early yesterday evening.

Brian Bowling said Kenzie went missing Monday and that his girlfriend discovered the dog.

"It was just terrible," Bowling said.

The news of the illnesses came as state officials are preparing to announce short-term and long-term plans to clean up Grand Lake St. Marys. Gov. Ted Strickland and directors of the state health, natural resources, agriculture and environmental agencies will make the announcement Friday morning at the Wright State University campus in Celina.

Similar algae problems are popping up in public and private lakes across the state, including Burr Oak, Indian and Buckeye lakes.

The 13,000-acre Grand Lake St. Marys has long been considered one of Ohio's most polluted bodies of water, largely because of manure and fertilizer runoff from nearby farms. Cyanobacteria, more commonly called blue-green algae, feed off phosphorus in the manure and fertilizers.

Algae has grown so thick this summer that state officials have warned people not to touch the water, boat on the lake or eat any fish caught there. Another round of tests released today again found microcystin, a liver toxin, and a neurotoxin called anatoxin-a.

Pet deaths have been linked to blue-green algae in other states, including Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Vermont and Missouri, according to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. This includes 10 dogs and five cats that died from 1976 through 2007 from algae blooms in different lakes in Washington state.

There is no test that detects microcystin or other algae-related toxins in people, said Jen House, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health. House said that forces investigators to rule out other causes.

Jenkins, for example, has reported lingering memory loss and numbness.

House said Jenkins' case is the most severe of the illnesses involving four men and five women. The first was reported July 9. No information was available about the other eight or their symptoms.

House said microcystin can cause skin rashes in people who touch contaminated water, as well as stomach cramps, diarrhea and nausea in people who swallow it. Neurotoxins can cause fatigue, dizziness, numbness and breathing difficulties.

Dr. Craig Miesse, a veterinarian at the Celina Animal Hospital, said the first dog he treated was Kasie, a 9-year-old golden retriever that died in his office on July 22. He said the dog had seizures and blood clots.

Miesse said he didn't consider the lake as a factor until Jenkins' dog, Casey, died.

He has collected tissue samples from Kenzie, the terrier that washed up on the lake's shore. He said the dog had been in the lake for at least a day and the condition of its body might cloud the test results.

Miesse said he also has fielded a call from the owner of a 2-year-old cairn terrier. The owner said the dog has been vomiting since it drank some lake water a couple days ago.

"It's going to be something we have to deal with for a while," Miesse said.