Toxocaria

Question 1

Toxocaria pathogenic species

What is the class? phylum?

Answer 1

T. canis
T. catis
class, nemathelminthes
nematodes, roundworms

Question 2

Toxocaria transmission

Answer 2

fecal oral infection from feces of dogs or cats

Question 3

Toxocaria clinical presentation

Answer 3

Often asymptomatic,
Humans are accidental host and worms can’t reproduce
Often self-resolving.

Symptomatic forms may be very severe to very mild.

Visceral toxocariasis, aka visceral larva migrans

• eiosinophilia
• fever and systemic inflammation
• lungs, heart, kidney, liver, muscle, brain are possible sites of implantation/cyst formation
• cough, dyspnea, ARDS
• hydrocephaly, seizures
• heptosplenomegaly, renal failure
• nausea, vomiting.

Ocular toxocariasis, aka ocular larva migrans
Unilateral retinitis and vision loss
Cyst formation in retina
Worm may hatch and be visible in/around eye

Question 4

Treatment

Answer 4

Albendazole,
Mebendazole

Corticosteroids to relieve symptoms may be life-saving.