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Cited by 153Parasitic infections in humans and animalsHelminth infection and controlParasites and Host Interactions

A critical look at the importance, prevalence and control of toxocariasis and the possibilities of immunological control

Barriga, Omar O.·1988·Veterinary Parasitology
DOI 10.1016/0304-4017(88)90126-4
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Abstract

The visceral infection of humans with Toxocara canis is particularly prevalent in children and may cause a variety of symptoms that commonly persist for 6-24 months. The ocular infection usually causes permanent loss of visual acuity. Human infection is acquired by ingestion of embryonated T. canis eggs with contaminated dirt. Review of recent reports indicates that patent T. canis infection is widely prevalent in the general population of dogs all over the world (3-81%) and results in a substantial contamination of the ground (0.3-87%). The results of sensitive and specific serological tests suggest that about 7% of the clinically healthy human population of the United States, about 5% of that of Canada, and about 4% of that in Great Britain is infected with the parasite. Control of transmission of the parasite to man is often attempted by eliminating the infection in dogs, reducing the population of dogs and the environmental contamination with their feces, and educating the public about the zoonotic potential of toxocariasis. The evidence reviewed indicates that these methods are only marginally effective. Because T. canis relies on congenital and lactogenic transmission to persist in nature, only a procedure that effects the sustained killing of the reservoir larvae in the tissues of the bitch, or of newly-acquired parasites, is expected to be successful. Research with mice, rabbits and dogs demonstrated that prior infections of the host induce the development of protective immunity to reinfections. This procedure, however, leaves remnant populations of larvae from the immunizing infections that are resistant to anthelmintics and to the effect of prior irradiation. Hyperimmunization with partially-purified extracts of T. canis larvae induced 37% resistance to a challenge in mice when the extract was administered alone, and 76% resistance when administered with lipopolysaccharide adjuvant. Production of complete resistance, however, will probably require the prior control of the immunosuppression induced by the parasite. T. canis infections inhibit the production of homologous protective immunity and antibody responses to heterologous antigens, probably by interfering with the activity of helper T-cells, competing with protective antigens, and suppressing antibody synthesis. The evidence indicates, however, that an anti-T. canis vaccine to eliminate the parasite in dogs is feasible.

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Crossref · 10.1016/0304-4017(88)90126-4

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  • Prolonged daily administration of fenbendazole is expensive and can suffer from lack of compliance by the owner.

    “Prolonged daily administration of fenbendazole can reduce prenatal infection but such regimen is expensive and can suffer from lack of compliance by the owner [13,176].”

    From Pet roundworms and hookworms: A continuing need for global worming (2012) · cites this paper as [176]

  • Prolonged daily administration of fenbendazole can reduce prenatal infection.

    “Prolonged daily administration of fenbendazole can reduce prenatal infection but such regimen is expensive and can suffer from lack of compliance by the owner [13,176].”

    From Pet roundworms and hookworms: A continuing need for global worming (2012) · cites this paper as [176]

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Authors
Barriga, O. O.
Affiliations
The Ohio State University (US)
Corresponding author
Barriga, Omar O.
Venue
Veterinary Parasitology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1988-09
Volume
29
Issue
2-3
Pages
195-234
ISSN
0304-4017 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0304-4017(88)90126-4
OpenAlex
W1984492632
Cited by
153
References
163
Citations by year
2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 10
FWCI
0.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Veterinary Parasitology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Parasitic infections in humans and animals
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Parasites and Host Interactions
Keywords
toxocariasis, Toxocara canis, zoonoses, ocular toxocariasis, visceral toxocariasis, seroprevalence, environmental contamination, transmission control, immune control, hyperimmunization, larval extract, vaccine development, immunosuppression, T helper cells, antibody response, congenital transmission, anthelmintic resistance
MeSH terms
Animals, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Humans, Toxocariasis, Vaccination

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