Toxocara canis

Taxobox
name = "Toxocara canis"


image_caption = Adult "Toxocara canis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Nematoda
classis = Secernentea
ordo = Ascaridida
familia = Toxocaridae
genus = "Toxocara"
species = "T. canis"
binomial = "Toxocara canis"
binomial_authority = Werner 1782

"Toxocara canis" (also known as dog roundworm) is worldwide distributed helminth parasite of dogs and other canids. "T. canis" are gonochorists, adult worms measure from 9 to 18 cm, are yellow-white in color, and occur in the intestine of the definitive host. In adult dogs, the infection is usually asymptomatic. By the contrast, massive invasion of "T. canis" can be fatal in puppies.cite book | author =Svobodová V, Svoboda M | title =Klinická parazitologie psa a kočky | edition = | publisher = ČAVLMZ | year = 1995 | isbn =] cite book | author = Jurášek V, Dublinský P, et al | title = Veterinárna parazitológia | edition = | publisher =Príroda a.s. | year =1993 | isbn =80-07-00603-6] As paratenic hosts, a number various vertebrates, including man, and some invertebrates can become infected. Humans are infected, like other paratenic hosts, by ingestion embryonated "T. canis" eggs.cite journal |author= Gillespie SH |title= The epidemiology of "Toxocara canis" |journal=Parasitol Today |volume=4 |issue=6|pages=180–182 |year=1988 |pmid=15463080 |doi= 10.1016/0169-4758(88)90156-1] The disease caused by migrating "T. canis" larvae (toxocariasis) results in two syndroms: visceralis larva migrans and ocularis larva migrans.cite journal |author=Despommier D |title=Toxocariasis: clinical aspects, epidemiology, medical ecology, and molecular aspects |journal= Clin Microbiol Rev |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=265–272 |year=2003 |pmid=12692098 |doi=10.1128/CMR.16.2.265-272.2003] Owing to transmission of the infection from bitches to puppies, preventive anthelmintic treatment of newborn puppies is strongly recommended. Several anthelmintic drugs are effective against adult worms, for example pyrantel, fenbendazole, selamectine etc. [http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/23505.htm The Merck Veterinary Maual] ]

What is Toxocariasis? ^[6] Toxocara canis causes the parasitic disease toxocariasis which includes two major forms:
#Ocular larva migrans (OLM): Toxocara infections may cause OLM, which is an eye disease that leads to blindness. OLM occurs when a microscopic worm enters the eye and causes inflammation and formation of a scar on the retina. On average, more than 700 people are infected with Toxocara and experience permanent partial loss of vision each year. Treatment of OLM is more difficult and usually consists of measures to prevent progressive damage to the eye.
#Visceral larva migrans (VLM): This is a rare heavier form of toxcara infections that can cause VLM. VLM is a disease that causes swelling of the body's organs or central nervous system. Symptoms include fever, coughing, asthma, or pneumonia which is caused by worms moving through the body. VLM is treated with antiparasitic drugs, usually in combination with anti-inflammatory medications.

Morphology

Adult "T. canis" have round body with spiky cranial and caudal part, covered by yellow cuticula. Cranial part of the body contains two lateral alae (length 2–2.5 mm, width 0.2 mm). Male worms measure 9–13 × 0.2–0.25 cm and female worms 10–18 × 0.25–0.3 cm. "T. canis" eggs have oval or spherical shape with granulated surface, thick-walled, and measures from 72 to 85 μm.

References

6. CDC webpage. Division of Parasitice Disease. 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/factsht_toxocara.htm

External links

* [http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/23505.htm The Merck Veterinary Manual]
* [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/ascaris/prevention.htm CDC - Guidelines for Veterinarians: Prevention of Zoonotic Transmission of Ascarids and Hookworms of Dogs and Cats]
* [http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2293.htm Emedicine - Toxocariasis]
* [http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DPD/PARASITES/toxocara/factsht_toxocara.htm CDC Parasitic Diseases Division - Toxocariasis]
*http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/~users/jcfox/htdocs/clinpara/Toxocara.htm
* [http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=476 Roundworms: Dogs and Puppies from The Pet Health Library]
*http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/factsht_toxocara.htm