COMMON WILDLIFE DISEASES
and PARASITES in
the NWT & Nunavut
ABSCESSES
|
Pockets
of puss (abscesses) in a piece of caribou flesh.
A piece of caribou flesh containing
abscesses.
Photo
credit: H. Schwantje, BC Environment, Lands & Parks.
|
|
An abscess is a pocket of pus in an animal’s
tissue. They are usually caused when a wound becomes infected.
|
Where
do abscesses occur? |
They
may occur in any species of animal.
In
the NWT and Nunavut, abscess occur periodically in different species.
|
What
are the signs of abscesses? |
Animals
usually appear healthy and may not show any signs of disease.
Most
abscesses are found while butchering.
Abscesses
can be found anywhere on the body in muscle or other tissue.
Usually,
they are firm lumps of white
fibrous
tissue filled with thick white or green pus.
|
How
can I protect myself? |
You cannot get abscesses from infected animals.
Be careful not to cut into an abscess. If this happens, pus
can be spread and contaminate other parts of the carcass.
Portions of meat containing abscesses should not be
eaten.
The rest of the carcass can be used for
human consumption.
abscess
and surrounding tissue |
