It may be the slime. Slime of some species here may irritate skin.
Since handling is warned about, some direct effect like skin lesions
should have been the problem I guess, rather than some secondary
effect like orally transmitting flukes.

Ãœmit



Kota "Martin H. Eastburn" <[log in to unmask]>

> Not knowing much of the issue - but consider that that snail might
> have by shape or nature more dangerous hosts that transmit to the collector.
> The locals might not understand what or why but those touching the shell
> might
> get very ill...
>
> Something like liver flukes or such that can be picked up with bare feet
> or by
> eating raw fish in some places.
>
> Martin
>
> John Varner wrote:
>> I initially posted this as a response to an unrelated thread, and am
>> reposting to avoid confusion.  my apologies
>>
>>    ----- Original Message -----
>>    *From:* John Varner <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>    *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>    *Sent:* Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:38 AM
>>    *Subject:* Re: [CONCH-L] New questions
>>
>>    A friend who is a research biologist / arborist recently returned
>>    from Peruvian rainforest, where some of the locals had advised him
>>    not to handle one of the local landsnails because it was
>>    venomous.  He said that the locals seemed to asiduously follow
>>    their own advice to him, though they didn't hesitate to handle
>>    other species of land snails.
>>    Does anyone know of Peruvian landsnails that are dangerous,
>>    either because they are venomous or vectors of disease?
>>
>>    - John
>>
>>
>>
>>    >
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>
> --
> Martin H. Eastburn
> @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
> "Our Republic and the Press will Rise or Fall Together": Joseph Pulitzer
> TSRA: Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
> NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Charter Founder
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>
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