Approximately 5% of the U.S. population has antibodies to Toxocara. This suggests that tens of millions of Americans may have been exposed to the Toxocara parasite.
Do all dogs have Toxocara?
Toxocara canis is a roundworm which primarily affects dogs. Although it doesn't commonly cause disease in adult dogs, symptoms can be severe in young puppies. More importantly, Toxocara Canis can infest humans as an intermediate host, causing several different syndromes.
How likely is it to get worms from your dog?
In most cases, a person has to ingest parasite-laden feces in order to contract worms from an animal. Good common sense and hygiene greatly reduces the risk, Weese said. “The risk is never zero,” Weese said, “but I'm not convinced it's any higher for a vet than someone that goes for a walk in the park.”
How many cases of toxocariasis are there in the UK?
There are about 120 recorded cases per year in the UK, very few of which are serious. However, even one case is one too many and with basic hygiene practices and regular worming of dogs and cats the disease is easily preventable.
How common is it for humans to get roundworm?
How common are roundworms? Hundreds of millions of people around the world are infected with roundworms at any given time. But many of these parasites are uncommon in the United States. Americans may come into contact with them when traveling to certain countries.
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