Rodents, insects, and other household pests harbor worm eggs, which are passed on to your cat when he devours them. Mice and the common house fly are just two of the many critters that can carry roundworms eggs. Mosquitoes and ticks can transmit parasites to your pet by biting them.
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.
Where do roundworms come from?
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 flies carry roundworm eggs?
Did you know that cockroaches can be infected and pass both roundworms and hookworms?! Flies also carry and spread roundworms when we catch the delicious pests.
How are roundworms transmitted?
Roundworm eggs live in soil that is contaminated by feces. The eggs can get into the body through the mouth. The infection can then spread from person to person via infected feces. Symptoms may include worms in a bowel movement or coming from the nose or mouth, vomiting, and stomach pain.