Larva Migrans

What is larva migrans and incoordination, tembling and circling Who should I contact, if I what causes it? in the affected animal. This is usually suspect larva migrans? Larva migrans describes a parasitic fatal. In Animals – Contact your veterinarian. disease involving migration of Can I get larva migrans? immature (larval) worms in various In Humans – Yes. Humans can get infested by parts of the body. Several different Contact your physician. various worm species after (accidently) worm species can be involved and ingesting the parasite eggs or by How can I protect my animal migration occurs in one of three forms. eating tissues from an infested animal When the worms migrate through the from larva migrans? and by penetration (direct contact) skin of the host, it is called cutaneous Dogs and cats, especially puppies of the worm larvae through the skin. (skin) larva migrans. If the worm and kittens, should be dewormed larvae migrate through various Hookworms are the most common regularly. Feces from pets should be internal organs of the host, it is called cause of cutaneous larva migrans cleaned up and disposed of weekly. visceral larva migrans. Sometimes while roundworms are the most Keep animals away from any areas the worm larvae may invade the important causes of visceral and (yards, sandboxes, gardens) that may eye of the host. This is called ocular ocular larva migrans in humans. contain feces from other animals, (eye) larva migrans. Humans and a Cutaneous larva migrans will including wildlife. Don’t allow your wide range of animal species can be appear as raised, reddened “tracts” or pet to eat feces from other animals. affected by this disease. lines in the affected area, commonly How can I protect myself the foot or arms. Signs of visceral larva What animals get larva migrans will vary depending on the from larva migrans? migrans? organ infested. Ocular larva migrans Good hygiene and regular Larval migrans has been seen in will result in vision problems and can deworming of pets will reduce the dogs, pigs, rabbits, lambs, cattle, non- lead to blindness. chance of human exposure. Children human primates, domestic and wild should not play in areas possibly fowl, sea otters and other species. contaminated with animal feces. Keep play areas, lawns and gardens around How can my animal get your home free of animal waste by larva migrans? disposing of pet feces regularly and Animals get worm larvae from their covering sandboxes when not in mothers before birth while nursing, or use. Always wash your hands after by ingesting the worm eggs from Larva Migrans handling soil or touching animals. feces in the environment or by after is caused by For More Information eating other infested animals (e.g., movement of worm larvae cats eating rodents). through the skin or other CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Larva Migrans organs of the body. at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ How does larva migrans DiseaseInfo/default.htm affect my animal? CDC Website. Toxocara Infection and Animals. Most animals with larva migrans http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/ show no signs of illness. Young diseases/toxocariasis.htm animals may have diarrhea and CDC Website. Hookworm Infection possibly die if the number of worms and Animals. http://www.cdc.gov/ healthypets/diseases/hookworm.htm present is large. Some worm species can migrate to the brain and spinal Photo shows worm larval tracts in the skin of a cord (visceral larva migrans) and cause human foot.

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