Toxocariasis Roundworm Infection

What is roundworm infection eggs in their feces. The eggs can How can I protect my animal and what causes it? survive for long periods of time in from roundworms? Roundworm infection or yards, parks and playgrounds. People Regular dewormings of your toxocariasis (TOX-o-kah-RYE-us-sis) can get roundworm infections pets can prevent and eliminate involves infestation of people or following incidental ingestion of roundworm infections in you pet. animals with roundworms, parasites eggs in feces contaminated soil, sand Talk with your veterinarian. Puppies found in the intestinal tract of dogs or plants. Children are more likely to and kittens should be examined and and cats. become infected if they play in areas dewormed by your veterinarian at an where the ground may be fecally early age. Keep the pet’s living area What animals get contaminated by dogs and cats. clean and dispose of feces at least roundworms? In most cases, roundworm once a week. Feces should be either Most animal species can get infection causes no symptoms or buried or bagged and disposed of in roundworms. Dog roundworms damage. In some cases, the immature the trash. (Toxocara canis) and cat roundworms worms (larvae) can migrate through (Toxocara cati) are two kinds of the body causing damage to body How can I protect myself roundworms that can cause disease tissues. This condition is known as from roundworms? in humans. visceral larva migrans. The larvae can Keeping your pet healthy and free damage nerves or even lodge into the of roundworms will help protect you How can my animal get eye which can result in permanent and your family. Personal hygiene roundworms? nerve or eye damage, even blindness. is essential to minimize infection. Dogs and cats of any age can get Always wash hands after contact with roundworms but they are most likely Who should I contact, if I animals or after outdoor activities, to have roundworms when they are suspect roundworms? such as gardening. This is especially very young. Worms are often passed In Animals – important before handling food or from a mother to her puppies or Contact your veterinarian. eeating. Do not allow children to play kittens before birth or shortly after In Humans – in areas that contain animal feces birth through her milk. Roundworms Contact your physician and (e.g., uncovered sandboxes). Keep can also spread between animals by discuss you have been in contact play areas, lawns and gardens around ingestion of worm eggs from the with animals with roundworms. your home free of animal waste by feces of an infected animal. disposing of pet feces regularly and covering sandboxes when not in use. How do roundworms affect Teach children that it is dangerous to my animal? eat dirt or soil and to wash their hands Most often pets show no signs before eating. of infection. Some animals can have vomiting, loss of appetite or weight For More Information loss. Heavy infections (large numbers CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Toxocariasis of worms) in young puppies and at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ kittens can cause death. DiseaseInfo/ Can I get roundworms? Roundworms CDC website. Toxocariasis at http://www.cdc. are parasites shed in the gov/parasites/toxocariasis/ Yes. An estimated 10,000 human feces of dogs and cats. cases of Toxocara occur in the U.S. every year. Dogs and cats infected Photo shows intestinal segment infested with with roundworms contaminate their roundworms from www.townenorth.com. environment by passing the worm

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