Presence of Toxocara canis eggs on the hair of dogs: a risk factor for Visceral Larva Migrans.
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.
Amaral
Hugo Leonardo da Cunha
HL
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
Rassier
Gabriela Lopes
GL
Pepe
Michele Soares
MS
Gallina
Tiago
T
Villela
Marcos Marreiro
MM
Nobre
Márcia de Oliveira
Mde O
Scaini
Carlos James
CJ
Berne
Maria Elisabeth Aires
ME
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*