Toxascaris leonina

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Toxascaris leonina

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Nematoda
Class:	Secernentea
Order:	Ascaridida
Family:	Ascarididae
Genus:	Toxascaris

Species

Toxascaris leonina

Toxascaris leonina are common parasitic roundworms of dogs, cats, and related host species. The life cycle is fairly simple. Eggs are ingested and hatch in the small intestine. In the small intestine the juveniles penetrate the mucosa. After growth and molt, they return to the intestinal lumen and mature. The adult female worm lays eggs which are passed in the feces. The eggs become infective after 3-6 days in the environment. Rodents are the intermediate hosts of T. leonina. The rodent ingests the eggs and, once the eggs are hatched, the larvae migrate through the tissues of the rodent. The definitive host is infected with this parasite when it eats an infected rodent. Humans are not infected with Toxascaris leonina.

The adult worms are usually 3-4 inches long and can be seen in the feces and vomit of the animal. Roundworms absorb the nutrients from the animal that can interfere with digestion and can also damage the lining of the intestine. Animals my not show any signs of roundworms at first but in more severe cases animals may experince thin, dull hair coats, and develop a belly appearance. Its important to deworm puppies at 6 weeks and to repeat treatment 2-4 weeks after first treatment.