Toxocara Flashcards
What is a paratenic host?
Carrier where the parasite can arrest - but is not necassary to the life cycle of the parasite.
What are the 4 possible routes of infection of toxicara canis?
- Oral.
- Transplacental.
- Transmammary.
- Paratenic host.
What kind of parasite is toxocara?
Nematode - roundworm.
What kind of migration does toxocara take?
Hepatracheal.
In what kind of animal can the toxocara canis complete its life-cycle?
Puppies.
What happens when a toxocara is detected by the immune system of an adult dog?
It goes into arrested larval development.
Why does the toxocara reactivate during pregnancy?
- Hormone influence.
- Lowered immune system.
What are the 2 phases of toxocara infection in the dog?
- Migratory phase.
- Enteral phase.
What does enteral Mean?
Involving or passing through the intestine.
What are the clinical signs of the migratory phase of toxocara infection in dogs?
- Coughing.
- Increased respiratory rate.
- Pneumonia.
What are the clinical signs of the enteral phase of toxocara infection in dogs?
- Pot-bellied pups.
- Failure to thrive.
What is toxocariasis?
Severe local reaction shown in humans infected with toxicara canis.
What are the 2 clinical presentation of toxocariasis in humans?
- Visceral larva migrans - larva found in visceral organs.
- Ocular larva migrans - larva found in eye and brain.
How is toxocariasis normally contracted in humans?
Through contact with soil or dog hair contaminated.
How is the spread of toxicara controlled and treated?
- Reduction in environmental contamination.
- Pre-parum dose of fenbendazol.
