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Ency. home > Disease > V > Visceral larva migrans

Visceral larva migrans   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Toxocariasis; Ocular larva migrans; Larva migrans visceralis

Definition:

An infection with the larval form of the dog or cat parasite which can affect the eyes, lungs, liver, brain and heart.

Causes and Risks

This infection is caused by ingestion of eggs from the dog and cat parasites called Toxocara canis and Toxocara catis respectively. These worms inhabit the intestinal tract of dogs and cats and their eggs appear in abundance in the feces of these animals.

However, the parasites are not infectious until three weeks after they have been excreted -- so the major risk factor for this infection is not cleaning up after cats or dogs, but eating soil contaminated with eggs or eating unwashed raw vegetables.

Young children with pica (who eat dirt and other inedible things) are at highest risk, but this infection can also occur in adults. People can also become infected by eating raw liver.

After ingestion, the eggs hatch into larvae in the gastrointestinal tract and are carried into the circulation and to various tissues -- primarily the lung, liver and eyes. The brain, heart and other organs can also sometimes be affected.

Ency. home > Disease > V > Visceral larva migrans

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