Toxocara canis Flashcards
Toxocara canis is not zoonotic (T/F)
FALSE!!!
Toxocara canis is a ZOONOTIC nematode
What are the definitive hosts for Toxocara canis?
- Puppies
- NOT CATS
What are the intermediate hosts for Toxocara canis?
Humans
How does tranmission of Toxocara canis occur to humans?
-ingesting soil with infective L2 eggs
Where does Toxocara canis migrate to in humans?
- Liver
- Eye
What are the 3 ways uninfected dogs be infected with Toxocara canis?
1) Ingestion of feces/soil containing the L2 infective larva
2) female dog prenatal infection through the placenta– vertical transmission
3) transmammary infection (L3 larave in milk).
When do young puppies begin passing Toxocara Canis eggs?
-2 weeks after birth
Regarding the Toxocara Canis lifecycle, how long does it take for eggs passed by puppies to mature in the environment so that they become infective to humans?
2 weeks
What is characteristic of Toxocara canis eggs that are in the environment?
Eggs are resistant to control measures and can last in the environment for years.
What is Visceral larva migrans (VLM) caused by Toxocara canis?
Clinical symptom
- T. canis larvae which migrate, without maturing, through tissues.
- In liver, leads to hepatomegaly and eosinophilia
What is Ocular larva migrans (OLM) caused by Toxocara canis?
Clinical symptom in the eye which causes blindness
-A granulosa forms around the larva in the retina, often resembling a retinoblastoma
How would you diagnose Toxocara canis?
- Based on clinical symptoms and history
- Serological tests
- ELISA
- and Ultra Sound
What is the treatment for Toxocara canis?
- Thiabendazole
- Preventative Anthelmintic for dogs and deworming
- Ultrasound for OLM and VLM
How would one control Toxocara canis?
- Disposal of dog feces in houses
- restricted access of dogs
