Toxascaris leonina
Toxascaris leonina | |
---|---|
A canine roundworm (Toxascaris leonina) egg. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | Nematoda |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | Toxascaris |
Species: | T. leonina
|
Binomial name | |
Toxascaris leonina | |
Type species | |
T. leonina |
Toxascaris leonina is a common
A
Life cycle
The life cycle of T. leonina is fairly simple.
Cats can become infected by ingesting either the egg or rodents that contain the larvae. Rodents are usually the intermediate hosts of T. leonina. The rodent ingests the eggs and, once the eggs are hatched, the larvae migrate through the tissues of the rodent. The definitive host is then infected with this parasite when it eats an infected rodent.
The egg of the T. leonina is usually more oval than round. The prepatent period for T. leonina is two to three months. The adult worms are usually 3-4 inches long and can be seen in the feces and vomit of the animal.
Toxascaris leonina differs from other
Symptoms of infection
Roundworms absorb the nutrients from the animal, which can interfere with digestion and can also damage the lining of the intestine. Animals may not show any outward symptoms of roundworms at all, or in other, usually more severe cases, animals may have diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, experience thinning, dull coats, and in puppies or kittens, can develop distended abdomens, or "pot-belly" appearance.
Infection symptoms are similar to infection by other Toxacara species (T. canis, T. cati). It is a common cause of diarrhea in young animals and can cause vomiting as well. Sometimes the worms themselves are vomited up, which can be alarming as they can be quite large with females reaching lengths of up to seven inches. The worms consume the host's food and can lead to lethargy and a classical pot-bellied appearance. Unlike T. canis and T. Cati, T. leonina is nonmigratory with its life cycle affecting only one organ.[5]
Prevention and treatment
It is recommended to de-worm all puppies and kittens at 6 weeks and repeat treatment 2–4 weeks after the first treatment. T. leonina roundworm infections are treated with the same medication protocol as the T. canis or T. cati roundworm infections (see Toxocariasis). Therefore, when eggs are seen on a fecal flotation exam, or fecal swab, it is not necessary to determine which species is present. Roundworm infections are treated with medication, called "de-wormers", and includes such drugs as fenbendazole, pyrantel, milbemycin oxime, and piperazine.
To prevent reinfection of parasitic roundworms, it is recommended that anything that the animal has been in contact with should be cleaned thoroughly or replaced, including bedding and kennels. It is also strongly recommended that outside areas where defecation may occur be cleaned, as well as all feces removed daily from outdoor pet runs, crates, and the yard.
Risk to humans
Humans are usually not infected with T. leonina; however, this parasite has been found in humans in a few instances and is a cause of visceral larva migrans in children, though less frequently implicated than is Toxocara canis, the most common roundworm parasite found in dogs.[4]
See also
- List of parasites (human)
- Toxocariasis
- Threadworm infections of dogs
References
- S2CID 9323279.
- ^ "Roundworms in pets, Vet PetStop, UK". Archived from the original on 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- PMID 31196226.
- ^ a b "Mondofacto Medical Dictionary, Definition of Toxacaris leonina". Archived from the original on 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ Brooks, Wendy (2020-08-31) [2001-03-12]. "Roundworms in Dogs and Puppies". Vin.com.
- Schmidt, Gerald D & Roberts, Larry S. 2005. Foundations of Parasitology (7th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill pp 439.
- Nash, Holly. 1997–2008. Pet education. Foster & Smith, Inc.
External links
- The Merck Veterinary Manual
- CDC - Guidelines for Veterinarians: Prevention of Zoonotic Transmission of Ascarids and Hookworms of Dogs and Cats
- Emedicine - Toxocariasis
- CDC Parasitic Diseases Division - Toxocariasis
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090510001313/http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/%7Eusers/jcfox/htdocs/clinpara/Toxocara.htm
- Roundworms: Dogs and Puppies from The Pet Health Library
- https://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/factsht_toxocara.htm