Toxocariasis
Toxocariasis is a tissue helminthiasis (nematodosis) of dogs and cats, isolated cases of the disease in humans are known, occurring with polymorphic manifestations due to the localization of the parasite. Etiology. The causative agent is a large roundworm (nematode) Toxocara canis 15-30 cm long, less often Toxocara mystax. The eggs are large, covered with a 2-layer shell with uneven edges. Females lay up to 200,000 eggs daily. Epidemiology. The infection is widespread among dogs and cats. In the US and Europe, toxocariasis affects up to 80% of puppies and up to 20% of adult dogs. 20% of the population is sensitized by Ag toxocar. Man is an optional and dead-end host. The route of infection is fecal-oral.
Clinical picture
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- Characterized by necrotic lesions, hemorrhages and eosinophilic infiltrates. The most commonly observed damage to the heart, lungs, liver, skeletal muscles and brain. The severity of lesions depends on the number of parasites, the localization of lesions and the severity of the body’s immune response to helminth Ag.
- Clinical manifestations are most pronounced in children aged 1 to 6 years, ranging from asymptomatic to severe forms. Characterized by eosinophilia, fever, non-cardinal enlargement of the liver and spleen. Severe lesions are accompanied by a significant increase in the liver and spleen, skin rash, infiltrates in the lungs, bronchospasm, neurological and mental disorders, convulsions. The disease persists for weeks and months. Lethal outcomes are observed in acute heart and lung failure, brain damage
- The severity of the disease in adults depends on the functional activity of the immune system. In adults and adolescents, systemic lesions are traditionally not observed. The most common lesion is granulomatous endophthalmitis, leading to unilateral strabismus and narrowing of the visual fields.
The research method is the identification of larvae in biopsy materials (traditionally from the liver).
Treatment
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- The drug of choice is thiabendazole 25 mg/kg twice daily. The duration of treatment is 2 days. Heading dose – 100 mg / kg
- Alternative product – pirvinium emboate 5 mg/kg 3 times a day for 7 days
- In severe forms – glucocorticoids.
Prevention – compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and the maintenance of dogs and cats. ICD. B83.0 Visceral form of diseases caused by the migration of helminth larvae (visceral Larva migrans)