Toxocariasis is caused by worms found in some dog, cat and fox poo. Animals with these worms in their digestive system can pass out worm eggs in their poo.
Where do you get Toxocara?
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.
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.
What animals can carry roundworms?
Roundworm eggs can also be spread by other animals such as rodents, earthworms, cockroaches, and birds. In these animals, the roundworms are merely transported, and do not mature into adults; if a dog eats this paratenic host (an accidental transport host), the roundworm is able to continue its lifecycle.
What part of the body was Toxocara larvae first detected?
Larvae enter the bloodstream and migrate to the lungs, where they are coughed up and swallowed. The larvae mature into adults within the small intestine of a cat, dog or fox, where mating and egg laying occurs. Eggs are passed in the feces and only become infective after three weeks outside of a host.
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