Diseases By Species
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Farm Animals
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Dogs
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Prevention
Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after contact with animals and their feces.
Avoid rough play with cats and dogs to prevent scratches and bites. |
Cats
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Horses
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Toxocariasis
Toxocariasis is the parasitic disease caused by the larvae of two species of Toxocara roundworms: Toxocara canis from dogs and, less commonly, Toxocara cati from cats. In the United States, because of its association with poverty, toxocariasis is considered a Neglected Infection of Poverty (NIP).
What is toxocariasis?
Toxocariasis is an infection transmitted from animals to humans (zoonosis) caused by the parasitic roundworms commonly found in the intestine of dogs (Toxocara canis) and cats (T. cati).
What are the clinical manifestations of toxocariasis?
There are two major forms of toxocariasis:
- Ocular toxocariasis: Toxocara infections can cause ocular toxocariasis, an eye disease that can cause blindness. Ocular toxocariasis occurs when a microscopic worm enters the eye; it may cause inflammation and formation of a scar on the retina. Each year more than 700 people infected with Toxocara experience permanent partial loss of vision.
- Visceral toxocariasis: Heavier, or repeated Toxocara infections, while rare, can cause visceral toxocariasis, a disease that causes abnormalities in the body’s organs or central nervous system. Symptoms of visceral toxocariasis, which are caused by the movement of the worms through the body, include fever, coughing, asthma, or pneumonia.
How serious is infection with Toxocara?
In most cases, Toxocara infections are not serious, and many people, especially adults infected by a small number of larvae (immature worms), may not notice any symptoms. The most severe cases are rare, but are more likely to occur in young children, who often play in dirt, or eat dirt (pica) contaminated by dog or cat stool.
How is toxocariasis spread?
The most common Toxocara parasite of concern to humans is T. canis, which puppies usually contract from the mother before birth or from her milk. The larvae mature rapidly in the puppy’s intestine; when the pup is 3 or 4 weeks old, they begin to produce large numbers of eggs that contaminate the environment through the animal’s stool. The eggs soon develop into infective larvae.
How can I get toxocariasis?
You or your children can become infected after accidentally ingesting (swallowing) infective Toxocara eggs in soil or other contaminated surfaces.
What should I do if I think I have toxocariasis?
See your health care provider to discuss the possibility of infection and, if necessary, to be examined. A blood test is available for diagnosis.
What is the treatment for toxocariasis?
Visceral toxocariasis is treated with antiparasitic drugs, usually in combination with anti-inflammatory medications. Treatment of ocular toxocariasis is more difficult and usually consists of measures to prevent progressive damage to the eye.
Who is at risk for toxocariasis?
Young children; owners of dogs and cats.
How can you prevent toxocariasis?
- Have your veterinarian treat your dogs and cats, especially young animals, regularly for worms.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water after playing with your pets or other animals, after outdoor activities, and before handling food.
- Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection.
- Do not allow children to play in areas that are soiled with pet or other animal stool.
- Clean your pet’s living area at least once a week. Feces should be either buried or bagged and disposed of in the trash.
- Teach children that it is dangerous to eat dirt or soil.