toxocariasis

toxocariasis /tox·o·car·i·a·sis/ (-kah-ri´ah-sis) infection by worms of the genus Toxocara.

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tox·o·ca·ri·a·sis (tks-k-r-ss)

n.

Infection with nematodes of the genus Toxocara.

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toxocariasis

infection by worms of the genus Toxocara. Heavy infestations in young puppies and kittens may be responsible for abdominal distention, signs of colic, diarrhea and poor growth. Somatic tissue migration of larvae in neonatal puppies may cause respiratory and nervous signs.

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toxocariasis Visceral larva migrans Parasitology A disease primarily of children due to dog–Toxocara canis and cat–T cati parasites that inhabit the GI tract and release eggs in the feces; when children ingest eggs from contaminated plants, dirt, stool, eggs hatch into larvae in GI tract, burrow through the wall and migrate elsewhere, primarily to liver and lung, but also brain, eye, etc, causing inflammation and tissue damage in transit Clinical Fever, pulmonary complaints–eg, cough, wheezing, seizures, rash, ↓ visual acuity due to migration through ocular structures–periorbital edema, strabismus Prognosis Generally self-limited, Sx eventually disappear; there is no specific therapy