Epidemiology
Toxocara canis is a roundworm parasite of dogs and foxes and eggs of these parasites can survive in the environment for many years. Humans (usually children) can acquire T. canis eggs by ingesting soil, by direct contact with dogs (usually puppies) or by consumption of uncooked or undercooked food contaminated with eggs, possibly transmitted by flies.
Main clinical features
Some infections may be asymptomatic, but there are a number of clinical
syndromes:
- Visceral toxocarosis — fever, coughing and wheezing, enlarged
lymph nodes and skin rash; usually young children
- Ocular toxocarosis — loss of visual acuity from blurring through
to blindness, usually in only one eye; usually older children
- Covert toxocarosis — a milder from than above characterised
by: weakness/lethargy, abdominal pain, enlarged lymph nodes, skin
rash and urticaria, headache, cough/wheeze, limb pain, nausea
Incubation period
1 - 7days
Surveillance
Voluntary laboratory reports.
Annual Surveillance Tables
Last reviewed: 04 June 2009
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