title: Presence of Toxocara canis eggs on the hair of dogs: a risk factor for Visceral Larva Migrans.
abstract: The close contact between dogs and humans poses a high risk of exposure to Toxocara canis eggs, which can lead to Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM) syndrome. The objective of this study was to investigate the existence of these nematode eggs on the hair of the perianal region in stray and owned dogs. Samples of hair from 104 dogs of different ages were collected: 25 (24%) were positive for T. canis eggs, with mean of 614.8 eggs per gram of hair. Puppies were responsible for 99% of the total number of eggs. The ages of the animal and hair length were factors that influenced the intensity of the observed eggs. This study showed that dog hair contaminated by T. canis eggs in different developmental stages represents a potential source of VLM infection for humans.
authors: Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário, s/n°, 96010-900, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. hugolca@yahoo.com.br
authors: Hugo Leonardo da Cunha
authors: HL
authors: Amaral
authors: Gabriela Lopes
authors: GL
authors: Rassier
authors: Michele Soares
authors: MS
authors: Pepe
authors: Tiago
authors: T
authors: Gallina
authors: Marcos Marreiro
authors: MM
authors: Villela
authors: Márcia de Oliveira
authors: Mde O
authors: Nobre
authors: Carlos James
authors: CJ
authors: Scaini
authors: Maria Elisabeth Aires
authors: ME
authors: Berne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007816:Larva Migrans, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology*