B. Tissue Dwelling Nematodes
ORGANISM 1: Toxocara species (T. canis and T. cati)
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
COMMON NAME: Visceral larval.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide migrans.
PATHOGENESIS: Granulomatous lesions of liver, lungs and other organs,
eosinophilia, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, pneumonitis,
dermatitis, neurologicaldisturbances, tumors of eyes, spinal
cord and heart in severe cases.
HABITAT
MAN: Any organs and tissues of the body.
DEFINITIVE HOST: Small intestines of dogs and cats.
INTERMEDIATE HOST: None.
RESERVOIR HOST: Same as definitive host, dogs and cats.
INFECTIVE FORM: Embryonated egg.
MODE OF INFECTION: Ingestion.
SPECIMEN OF CHOICE: Tissue biopsy and serological.
Figure 4-19. Life cycle of Toxocara species.
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