Assistance Please: Hare Liver Analysis

[hare_assassin]

Hello all,

Some of you may recall that I recently shot a few hare with "questionable" liver issues.

My main concern is that these hare have tularemia, and I am trying to figure out once and for all what is going on here.

On Saturday, I shot 1 hare and it had the liver issue. On Sunday, I shot 4 more hare and one of them had the liver issue, so I took some photos.

The first shot shows the "questionable" liver on the left and a "healthy" liver on the right. Can you see the difference?

http://www.cogitech.ca/photos/hunting/hare_liver_1.jpg

No? Maybe a closer shot will help (sorry, I only had a crappy cell phone camera):

http://www.cogitech.ca/photos/hunting/hare_liver_2.jpg

Now, after some interweb research, I think my initial diagnosis of tularemia was off the mark.

I think what is going on here is "liver flukes".

Can anyone confirm this, or offer any insight? Thanks in advance.

[adriaticum]

Did you cut into it? Are they cysts, parasites?

[hare_assassin]

I did cut into one previously (not the one in the photo) but I could not discern what is going on in there.

One thing to note is that every case of this that I have encountered was in young hares.

[hare_assassin]

I did find this photo on the internet...

http://www.farmanimalhealth.co.uk/images/uploads/pop_ups/LiverFluke_liverdamage.jpg

Which is related to a page about "liver fluke information for cattle and sheep".

[Rackem]

Looks like liver flukes,
http://gallowayfarm.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/img_0247.jpg

[ruger#1]

Here. try this site. http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=disease.specieslist

[Rackem]

This is an image from a rabbit with Tuleremia

http://vetpath.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/dscf2871.jpg

[Jagermeister]

Gleamed from the site that Ruger#1 provided


Normal cooking temperatures kill bacteria in the meat. Therefore, it is safe to eat. However, human exposure typically occurs while gutting a hare.
Wear protective gloves when gutting hares, muskrats and beavers, especially during spring/summer/fall.

[hare_assassin]

Thanks everyone !