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Toxascaris leonina
Synonym(s): T. leonina; Roundworm
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Phylum: Nematoda.
- Class: Secernentea.
- Order: Ascaridida.
- Family: Toxocaridae.
- Genus: Toxascaris.
- Species: Leonina.
Distribution
- Adult parasites infect cats, dogs, foxes and wild Canidae (dingos in Australia) and Felidae.
- Surveys have recorded approximately 1-5% of cats infected in UK.
- Prevalence can be much higher in feral cat colonies.
- One study from North Quebec, Canada, found an infection rate of 44% in local dogs.
- In well cared for animals in the USA prevalence varies from 1.85% (Western States) to 0.15% (southeast).
- Pound dogs in the USA have an overall frequency for roundworm (of which T. leonina is a small subset) of 14.5%.
Significance
- Intensity of infection usually is not high and T. leonina is not normally associated with any ill health.
- May be an occasional cause of visceral larva migrans Visceral larva migrans in humans.
Active Forms
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Resting Forms
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Clinical Effects
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Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Bowman D D (1987) Diagnostic morphology of four larval ascaridoid nematodes that may cause visceral larva migrans: Toxascaris leonina, Baylisascaris procyonis, Lagochilascaris sprenti, and Hexametra leidyi. J Parasitol 73 (6), 1198-1215 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Smith G & Schad G (1998) The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode parasites in well cared for pet dogs in the East Coast of the USA. Proc Am Assoc Vet Parasitol 43rd annual meeting Baltimore.