Aspects of Toxocara epidemiology: toxocarosis in dogs and cats.

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are common roundworms of dogs and cats. In this review the life cycles of these parasites are described, including the various routes of transmission, such as transplacental, transmammary infection, and infection through paratenic hosts. The somatic and tracheal migration in the body of the hosts after infection with Toxocara eggs or larvae is discussed, with special reference to age resistance and differences between dog and cat. The clinical symptoms and pathology in adult and young dogs and cats are given. Diagnosis of patent infections can be obtained by fecal examination, and treatment consists of the use of anthelmintics. Control of the infection and disease is achieved by prevention of contamination of the environment, anthelmintic treatment strategy, and education. Special attention is given to the efficacy of anthelmintics against adult worms and against somatic larvae. It is concluded that education on the life cycles of the parasites, hygiene, and anthelmintic treatment schedules is required because of the zoonotic risks of Toxocara spp. Deworming of pregnant dogs and cats is not recommended.

[1]  D. Jacobs,et al.  Efficacy of fenbendazole and piperazine against developing stages of toxocara and toxascaris in dogs , 1993, Veterinary Record.

[2]  M. Abo-Shehada,et al.  Acquired immunity to Toxocara canis infection in mice. , 1991, Veterinary parasitology.

[3]  D. Bowman,et al.  Disseminated granulomatous disease in a cat caused by larvae of Toxocara canis. , 1988, Journal of comparative pathology.

[4]  P. O’Lorcain,et al.  Epidemiology of Toxocara spp. in stray dogs and cats in Dublin, Ireland , 1994, Journal of Helminthology.

[5]  Glenys Griffiths,et al.  Points: Toxocariasis in the British Isles 1982-3 , 1984 .

[6]  M. Schreurs,et al.  [Toxocara ova in parks and sand-boxes in the city of Utrecht]. , 1993, Tijdschrift voor diergeneeskunde.

[7]  M. Dryden.  Diagnosis and control of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs and cats. , 1996, Veterinary Quarterly.

[8]  P. Overgaauw.  Prevalence of intestinal nematodes of dogs and cats in The Netherlands. , 1997, The Veterinary quarterly.

[9]  D. Bowman,et al.  Pathological and haematological responses of cats experimentally infected with Toxocara canis larvae. , 1989, International journal for parasitology.

[10]  P. Deplazes,et al.  [Endoparasite infection in stray and abandoned dogs in southern Switzerland]. , 1995, Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde.

[11]  S. Lloyd,et al.  Periparturient immunosuppression in the bitch and its influence on infection with Toxocara canis , 1983 .

[12]  E. Warren.  Infections of Toxocara canis in dogs fed infected mouse tissues , 1969, Parasitology.

[13]  T. Burke,et al.  Prenatal and lactational transmission of Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum: experimental infection of the bitch before pregnancy. , 1985, International journal for parasitology.

[14]  A. Kornblatt,et al.  Veterinary and public health considerations in canine roundworm control: a survey of practicing veterinarians. , 1980, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[15]  T. Burke,et al.  Fenbendazole treatment of pregnant bitches to reduce prenatal and lactogenic infections of Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum in pups. , 1983, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[16]  J. Sprent.  Observations on the development of Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) in the dog , 1958, Parasitology.

[17]  J. Wilesmith,et al.  Clinical and epidemiological correlates of the neurohistology of cases of histologically unconfirmed, clinically suspect bovine spongiform encephalopathy , 1995, Veterinary Record.

[18]  L. Polley.  Visceral larva migrans and alveolar hydatid disease. Dangers real or imagined. , 1978, The Veterinary clinics of North America.

[19]  M. Dryden,et al.  Epidemiology and control of helminth parasites in Greyhound breeding farms , 1994 .

[20]  P. Overgaauw.  Effect of a government educational campaign in the Netherlands on awareness of Toxocara and toxocarosis , 1996 .

[21]  P. Overgaauw.  Toxocarosis in dogs and cats. , 1994, Veterinary Quarterly.

[22]  E. Pegg,et al.  A survey of patent nematode infestations in dogs , 1977, Veterinary Record.

[23]  T. Oshima.  Influence of pregnancy and lactation on migration of the larvae of Toxocara canis in mice. , 1961, The Journal of parasitology.

[24]  S. W. Nielsen,et al.  Transmammary passage of Toxocara cati in the cat. , 1971, American journal of veterinary research.

[25]  J. Dubey.  Patent Toxocara canis infection in ascarid-naive dogs. , 1978, The Journal of parasitology.

[26]  S. Uga.  Prevalence of Toxocara eggs and number of faecal deposits from dogs and cats in sandpits of public parks in Japan , 1993, Journal of Helminthology.

[27]  S. Uga,et al.  Defecation habits of cats and dogs and contamination by Toxocara eggs in public park sandpits. , 1996, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[28]  P. Overgaauw,et al.  Nematode infections in dog breeding kennels in The Netherlands, with special reference to Toxocara. , 1998, The Veterinary quarterly.

[29]  M. Stoye,et al.  Pränatale und galaktogene Infektionen mit Toxocara mystax ZEDER 1800 (Anisakidae) bei der Maus , 1986 .

[30]  Barriga Oo.  Rational control of canine toxocariasis by the veterinary practitioner. , 1991 .

[31]  Visco Rj,et al.  Effect of age and sex on the prevalence of intestinal parasitism in dogs. , 1977 .

[32]  O. Barriga,et al.  A critical look at the importance, prevalence and control of toxocariasis and the possibilities of immunological control. , 1988, Veterinary parasitology.

[33]  L. Glickman,et al.  Epidemiology and pathogenesis of zoonotic toxocariasis. , 1981, Epidemiologic reviews.

[34]  D. Jacobs,et al.  Gastro-intestinal nematodes of élite show dogs in Great Britain , 1976, Journal of Helminthology.

[35]  R. Maizels,et al.  Toxocara and toxocariasis : clinical, epidemiological and molecular perspectives , 1993 .

[36]  O. A. Al-Jabr,et al.  Prevalence of Toxocara ova in dog faeces. , 1997, The Veterinary record.

[37]  T. Oshima.  Standardization of techniques for infecting mice with Toxocara canis and observations on the normal migration routes of the larvae. , 1961, The Journal of parasitology.

[38]  R. Dubielzig,et al.  Multifocal Retinitis in New Zealand Sheep Dogs , 1987, Veterinary pathology.

[39]  D. Jacobs,et al.  Helminths of British dogs: Toxocara canis--a veterinary perspective. , 1977, The Journal of small animal practice.

[40]  J. Sprent.  The life history and development of Toxocara cati (Schrank 1788) in the domestic cat , 1956, Parasitology.

[41]  J. Duncan,et al.  Anthelmintics for dogs, cats and horses. , 1984, The British veterinary journal.

[42]  M. Clarkson,et al.  Anthelmintic tests on Toxocara canis infection in mice , 1981, The Veterinary Record.

[43]  C. Reinemeyer,et al.  Comparison of the efficacies of three heartworm preventives against experimentally induced infections with Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis in pups. , 1995, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[44]  O. Barriga,et al.  Transfer of infection-induced immune protection to Toxocara canis in a mouse model. , 1985, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology.

[45]  S. Kernbaum,et al.  Toxocara canis and human toxocariasis. , 1979 .

[46]  P. O’Lorcain.  Prevalence of Toxocara canis ova in public playgrounds in the Dublin area of Ireland , 1994, Journal of Helminthology.

[47]  J. Parsons.  Ascarid infections of cats and dogs. , 1987, The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice.

[48]  M. Stoye,et al.  [Effect of various benzimidazole carbamates on somatic larvae of Ancylostoma caninum Ercolani 1859 (Ancylostomidae) and Toxacara canis Werner 1782 (Anisakidae). 2. Studies of pregnant bitches]. , 2010, Zentralblatt fur Veterinarmedizin. Reihe B. Journal of veterinary medicine. Series B.

[49]  L. Saunders,et al.  Visceral Larva Migrans in the Dog , 1966, Pathologia veterinaria.

[50]  C. Holland,et al.  Families, parks, gardens and toxocariasis. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases.

[51]  D. Jacobs.  Control of Toxocara canis in puppies: a comparison of screening techniques and evaluation of a dosing programme. , 1987, Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics.

[52]  D. Jacobs.  Anthelmintics for dogs and cats. , 1987, International journal for parasitology.

[53]  D. Jacobs,et al.  Studies on the control of Toxocara canis in breeding kennels. , 1994, Veterinary parasitology.

[54]  M. Stoye,et al.  Zur Wirkung verschiedener Benzimidazolcarbamate auf somatische Larven von Ancylostoma caninum ERCOLANI 1859 (Ancylostomidae) und Toxocara canis WERNER 1782 (Anisakidae)1 , 1981 .

[55]  Greve Jh.  Age resistance to Toxocara canis in ascarid-free dogs. , 1971 .

[56]  Koutz Fr,et al.  PRENATAL TOXOCARA CANIS INFECTION IN PUPS. , 1965 .

[57]  B. Peťko,et al.  Role of small mammals in the epidemiology of toxocariasis , 1995, Parasitology.

[58]  Abdel-Hameed Aa.  Effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics on the survival and migratory behavior of Toxocara canis larvae in the mouse. , 1984 .

[59]  D. Jacobs,et al.  Helminth infections of British dogs: Prevalence in racing greyhounds , 1976 .

[60]  T. Oshima.  Observations of the age resistance eosinophilia and larval behavior in the helminth free beagles infected with toxocara canis , 1976 .

[61]  P. Viens,et al.  Epidemiology of Toxocariasis in the Montreal area. Prevalence of Toxocara and other helminth ova in dogs and soil. , 1976, Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique.

[62]  L. Glickman,et al.  Serological response of ascarid-free dogs to Toxocara canis infection , 1981, Parasitology.

[63]  G. Bourdoiseau,et al.  LE PARASITISME INTESTINAL DES CARNIVORES DOMESTIQUES : BILAN D'UNE ENQUETECONDUITE DANS LES QUATRE ECOLES VETERINAIRES FRANCAISES , 1997 .

[64]  Robert Jm,et al.  Survey of veterinarians' recommendations for treatment and control of intestinal parasites in dogs: public health implications. , 1991 .

[65]  B. M. Christensen,et al.  Epidemiologic findings on canine and feline intestinal nematode infections from records of the Iowa state University Veterinary Clinic. , 1978, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[66]  W. Nicholas,et al.  The action of benzimidazoles on the larval stage of Toxocara canis in the mouse. , 1979, Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology.

[67]  C. Daurio,et al.  Evaluation of a beef-based chewable formulation of pyrantel pamoate against induced and natural infections of hookworms and ascarids in dogs. , 1991, Veterinary parasitology.

[68]  J. Sprent.  Post-parturient infection of the bitch with Toxocara canis. , 1961 .

[69]  T. Schnieder,et al.  Investigations into the prevention of neonatal Toxocara canis infections in puppies by application of doramectin to the bitch. , 1996, Zentralblatt fur Veterinarmedizin. Reihe B. Journal of veterinary medicine. Series B.

[70]  R. Maizels,et al.  Repeated patent infection of adult dogs with Toxocara camis , 1984, Journal of Helminthology.

[71]  S. Lloyd,et al.  Prenatal and transmammary infections of Toxocara canis in dogs: effect of benzimidazole‐carbamate anthelmintics on various developmental stages of the parasite , 1983 .

[72]  O. Vanparijs,et al.  Anthelmintic efficacy of flubendazole paste against nematodes and cestodes in dogs and cats. , 1985, American journal of veterinary research.

[73]  C. H. Courtney,et al.  World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintics for dogs and cats. , 1994, Veterinary parasitology.

[74]  G. H. Collins.  [A survey of gastro-intestinal helminths of dogs in New Zealand]. , 1981, New Zealand Veterinary Journal.

[75]  J. D. Smyth,et al.  Equine hydatidosis: A review of the current status in great britain and the results of an epidemiological survey , 1975 .