TITLE: Microbe Suspected in Skier's Illness
COLUMN: AROUND THE REGION
CREDIT: From News Services and Staff Reports
EST. PAGES: 1
DATE: 08/18/97
DOCID: WP1113030
SOURCE: The Washington Post; WP
EDITION: FINAL; SECTION: METRO; PAGE: B03
CATEGORY: NEWS MARYLAND
(Copyright 1997)
A neurologist said lesions suffered by a water skier appear
to be the result of the predator microbe Pfiesteria piscicida,
the organism suspected in a Pocomoke River fish kill, as well
as a fish kill and health problems suffered by watermen and researchers
in North Carolina.
The water skier, James Aravanis, 23, of Pocomoke City, Md.,
was examined Monday by Donald Schmechel, a neurologist at Duke
University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
Pfiesteria is "the most likely cause" of Aravanis's
lesions, Schmechel said in an interview with the Baltimore Sun.
Aravanis appears to be recovering, Schmechel said.
Schmechel said he has treated several people, most from
North Carolina, for illnesses associated with Pfiesteria. Those
treated included North Carolina State University researcher JoAnn
Burkholder, who discovered the organism nine years ago, and two
members of her staff. The three became ill after prolonged exposure
to the microorganism in a laboratory, Schmechel said.
Aravanis is one of about 10 people in Maryland who said
say they became ill after exposure to the Pocomoke River.
REGION: MD US; MARYLAND; UNITED STATES
DESCRIPTORS: Microorganisms; Fish; Maryland; Rivers, streams, etc.; Investigations and probes; Wounds and injuries; Waterskiing, surfing;
HEALTH; SPORTS
ORGANIZATION: Pocomoke River
INDUSTRY: FOOD
PERSON: James Aravanis;
OTHER TERMS: @Slug: B03MI