Adults and children can become infected by accidentally swallowing dirt that has been contaminated with dog or cat feces that contain infectious Toxocara eggs. Although it is rare, people can also become infected from eating undercooked meat containing Toxocara larvae.
How are roundworms transmitted from dogs to humans?
Roundworms do pose a significant risk to humans. Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.
What is the transmission route for the Toxocara spp?
Toxocara canis can be transmitted to nursing pups by transmammary transmission from larvae that were in their mothers milk. This is the least common form of transmission. The ingested milk containing the infected stage three larvae goes directly to the newborns' small intestine.
How do roundworms get transmitted to humans?
Roundworm infections usually happen when soil, sand, or plants that have been contaminated with infected animal feces are accidentally put in the mouth and ingested. Hookworm infections happen when larvae penetrate the skin. This usually happens when people sit or walk on contaminated soil or sand with bare feet.
Can you get roundworms from your dog licking you?
Parasites like hookworm, roundworm, and giardia can be passed from dog to human through licking. Salmonella, too, can be passed from your dog to you, or vice versa. Viruses tend to affect one species or the other; you're not going to give your dog a cold, and they won't be giving you their cough.
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
What is the infective stage of Toxocara?What is the role of human in Toxocara canis life cycle?
