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Epidemiology of Toxascaris leonina infection post-weaning within a colony of dogs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2024

M.A. Fisher ,
M.G. Murphy  and
E.M. Siedek
M.A. Fisher
Affiliation:
Pfizer Global Research and Development, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ, UK
M.G. Murphy
Affiliation:
RBK House, Irishtown, Athlone, Co. West Meath, Ireland
E.M. Siedek*
Affiliation:
RBK House, Irishtown, Athlone, Co. West Meath, Ireland
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: +44 (01304) 65 62 57 Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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This communication reports incidental observations on Toxascaris leonina infections in a beagle breeding colony. Regular faecal monitoring demonstrated that T. leonina was endemic in the adult dam population within this colony. Small numbers of T. leonina eggs were also detected in the faeces of weaned pups from eight weeks of age possibly produced by a patent infection. This would mean a pre-patent period for T. leonina of 56 days or less. Worm counts on 10 pups showed that 60% of pups had acquired a T. leonina infection by 12 weeks of age. Since prenatal and lactogenic transmission do not occur and as the pups were kept in an environment which reduced chances of infection with T. leonina and there was no apparent source of paratenic hosts, the source of infection must have been embryonated T. leonina eggs from the whelping environment. These observations on T. leonina demonstrate that, if pups are exposed to an infected environment, patent infections may be seen in a younger age group than is normally associated with T. leonina infections.

Type
Review Article
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 76 , Issue 1 , March 2002 , pp. 27 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

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