Zephyr had some stool samples from April 19th and 20th tested at Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory, which is considered to be the only U.S. lab qualified to do accurate parasite testing. The results came back showing no ova or parasites in the samples, but they did contain high levels of the bacterial pathogens Klebsiella Pneumoniae (4+) and Staphylococcus Aureus (4+), as well as Candida (4+). There were also high levels of healthy flora (E. coli, Bifidobacter, and Gamma Strep -- all 4+). I received permission from Dr. Michael Klaper to share with our list excerpts from a letter he wrote interpreting the stool sample results and commenting on Zephyr's diet during his recovery phase. Dr. Klaper writes: "As far as Zephyr's nutritional program, I'm not surprised to hear that he received an "energy boost" from the flesh that he consumed. After such a prolonged state of nutritional depletion, I'm sure his body would respond well to many substances. My opinion of raw flesh in the diet, ethical considerations aside, is that such a practice will continue to hold dangers for Zephyr. I fear that this bout of trichinosis is not the last of infectious disease that Zephyr may encounter. It is inevitable that, when animals are slaughtered, the intestinal contents contaminate the flesh. These days, that opens the door to some truly fearsome microorganisms, such as antibiotic-resistant E. coli and/or Salmonella -- two bugs notorious for mercilessly tearing up the intestinal lining. The concern over transmissible encephalopathies ("Mad Cow" Disease, CJD, etc.) is growing, and for unfortunately good reasons. The prion-containing animal flesh that is recycled through modern animal feed ("bypass protein") is now suspected to be contaminating animals of all species. In other words, chickens, pigs, cows, etc., are all fed prion-containing "bypass protein", and thus become carriers of the brain-destroying plague. However, the chickens and pigs are killed and eaten before they clinically manifest their disease -- yet they may still be carriers of the curse. Again, anyone consuming flesh in their diet -- raw or cooked -- puts themselves at risk for this grotesque and lethal scourge. There is also the "yellow scourge" of hepatitis virus waiting in the wings, a common hitchhiker on shellfish harvested in local waters as well as on any foods washed with unclean water. Anyone who eats raw fish flesh of any kind also puts themselves at risk for ingesting a nasty fish tapeworm, with the name of Diphyllobothrium latum, that gnaws away at the intestinal lining, inducing anemia through blood loss. There are other microbial parasites, such as Pfisteria, the "microbe from Hell," infecting fish and fishermen throughout the North Carolina river estuaries, that may cast further doubt on viewing fish flesh as "health food." Again, the natural world is no longer pristine and everyone, regardless of their dietary view, must align their eating practices with today's biological realities. Finally, this may not be Zephyr's last episode of trichinosis. Remember, that this recent infection may have had nothing to do with mongoose liver or anything else Zephyr had eaten recently. In other words, these worms may have been incubating in his muscles for months, perhaps having been consumed with raw beef or pork long ago. If that is the case, then Zephyr contracted trichinosis by eating "good" meat -- and suffered the consequences. The implication is that another bout of these nasty worms could be as close as the next slab of beef. Of course, none of this is pleasant to consider, but you did ask my opinion..."