Austin Keys

 Phylum: Nematoda  Class: Secernentea  Order: Ascaridida  Family: Toxocaridae  Genus: Toxocara  Species: Toxocara canis  Common Name: Dog Roundworm toxocara-parasite.html

 Worldwide where Dogs are found

 Adult  Female: cm  Male: 4-6 cm long  Three lips  Prominent cervical alae  Egg  Brownish color and almost spherical (85µm x 75µm)

 Definitive: Dogs  Paratenic & Accidental: Humans and other usually small mammals

 In dogs usually asymptomatic  In puppies  Noisey breathing  Vomiting  Diarrhea  Pot belly  May cause death in heavy infections  In Humans usually asymptomatic  Abdominal pain  Decreased apetite  Fever  Hives  Restlessness  Various other symptoms depend on what organ the larvae infect

 Caused by larvae that have migrated to the retina of the eye  Inflammation  Formation of scars  Detachment of retina  Partial to full vision loss

 Caused from Larvae wondering throughout various organs of the body (brain, lungs, liver(most common), heart,muscle)  Depend on organ that is infected Fever Pulmonary symptoms Hepatospleenmegaly Eosinophilia Asthma

 Dogs  Assume all puppies are infected  Check for eggs in multiple stool samples (because eggs are not shed at all times)  Humans  ELISA – identifies certain antibodies in the blood Can distinguish between A. lumbricoides & T. canis  Clinical signs  History of exposure to puppies

 Antiparasitc drugs o Albendazole (drug of choice) o Mebendacole o usually with Anti-inflammatory  OLM no known treatment  Steroids have been used but are unsure if it is effective or not

 Make sure to treat your dogs, more important, regularly for worms  Wear gloves when working with possible contaminated soil  Do not allow children to ingest or play in possibly contaminated soil

 z/toxocariasis/body_Toxocariasis_page2.htm z/toxocariasis/body_Toxocariasis_page2.htm  Toxocara-canis-Introduction-Background- Information-Morphology-Eggs-continued-Life-Cycle- Pathogenesis-as-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/ Toxocara-canis-Introduction-Background- Information-Morphology-Eggs-continued-Life-Cycle- Pathogenesis-as-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/  Roberts, L. et all. Foundations of Parasitology(, 7 th ed.   course1.winona.edu/kbates/Parasitology/documents/Tox ocara.pp 