This article is about the organism. For the infection, see Toxocariasis.
| Toxocara cati |
|
| Adults of T. cati |
| Scientific classification |
| Kingdom: |
Animalia |
| Phylum: |
Nematoda |
| Class: |
Secernentea |
| Order: |
Ascaridida |
| Family: |
Toxocaridae |
| Genus: |
Toxocara |
| Species: |
T. cati |
| Binomial name |
Toxocara cati
(Zeder, 1800) |
Toxocara cati (toxo=arrow + cara=head;synonym Toxocara mystax, common name feline roundworm) is worldwide distributed parasite of cats and other felids and it is one of the most common nematodes of cats. This parasite is dangerous as it can infect both wild felids as well as domestic felids. Adult worms are localised in gut of the host. In adult cats, the infection - which is called toxocariasis - is usually asymptomatic. However, massive infection in juvenile cats can be fatal.
Feline roundworms may be brownish-yellow to cream colored to pink and may be up to 10cm in length. Adults have short, wide cervical alae giving their anterior ends the distinct appearance of an arrow (hence their name). Eggs are pitted ovals with a width of 65μm and a length of about 75μm making them invisible to the human eye. The larvae are so small that they are easily transmitted from an adult female to her nursing kittens through her milk.[1]
Contents
- 1 Contact
- 2 Clinical signs
- 3 Detection
- 4 See also
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Contact
Contact with the roundworm species for wild felids can come from a variety of sources. The primary source of contact with this species is contact with infected fecal matter. The eggs of the roundworm become infective in three to four weeks after being passed out in fecal matter (Webmd.com 2008). Contact with the soil, licking fur near feet, and eating a host animal (such as rodents) can also lead to infection of the felines (Webmd.com 2008). The consumption of infected carrion also leads to contraction of the parasites, which is some of the food that members of Felidae consume (Umich.edu 2013). The eggs hatch in the intestines and the larvae are then released into the cat’s digestive tract (Web.md.com 2008). The larvae are capable of migrating through the tissues of the wild feline (Web.md.com 2008). The larvae use the blood of the feline to lungs (Web.md.com 2008). From there, they move up to the trachea where they are swallowed causing hacking and other problems (Web.md.com 2008). The larvae can also move throughout the body and cause more damage to the infected individuals. The worms can even go into the mother’s milk and infect the young (Web.md.com 2008)
Clinical signs
There are numerous clinical signs when dealing with Feline Roundworm. Some clinical signs that can be detected easily are vomiting, decreased appetite, and poor growth (VCAHospitals.com 2013). Like many diseases, changes in behavior can also attribute as a symptom of any individuals infected with roundworms. The decreased appetite will result in individuals appear scrawny, mangy, and sickly. The poor growth and decreased appetite is exceptionally detrimental to kittens, as the appetite loss and poor growth will ultimately lead to mortality since this time of growth for kittens is very important. The mortality of kittens will lead to continual decrease of the population as there will be fewer kittens to replace adult mortality. Additional clinical signs that can be identified at closer examination include pot bellied appearance, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea (VCAHospitals.com 2013). Those with a small number of worms, however, may not show the clinical signs of being infected with worms (VCAHospitals.com 2013) resulting in it being hard to determine if individuals have roundworms.
Detection
Unfortunately, little research has been done as far as identifying the roundworm in wild felid populations. There are some detection methods that have been used in order to help identify roundworm infestation. Possible detection methods for discovering feline roundworm include noting changes in behavior. The change in behavior can be identified through from eyewitness accounts. As change in behavior can include a lack of fear towards humans, eyewitness accounts can be imperative for identifying round worm. Although, detecting the individuals, never mind the infected ones, may prove to be a challenge. Felids especially are hard to detect for roundworm as they are naturally loners by nature (with the exception of the lion, who forms prides) and are cryptic by nature (Umich.edu 2013). Another method to help determine the possibility of roundworm infection is transect studies. The studies implement individuals walking along transects and spotting animals and noting for any unusual behavior within animals of populations. The transect studies, however, need suspicion of infection in order to be implemented. To that end, many DNR (Department of Natural Resources) and other wildlife organizations (such as the US Geological Survey) allow people to provide information regarding suspicion of infection (USGS.gov 2013). These organizations will then have people fill out a sheet detailing the mortality event.[2]
For organizations such as the DNR, reporting individuals that have been viewed (Wi.gov 2013) aids in the detection of individuals infected by roundworm. The contacted DNR will then proceed with the proper procedures to work on dealing with the possibility of roundworm infestation in the area. Many agencies use fecal matter testing and studies to identify the presence of parasites within a population. Agencies take the fecal matter of a suspected population and test the contents for the presence of eggs or remains of adults. Many parasites often pass their eggs through the animal’s fecal matter and as Durant et al. (2012) stated, identification is paramount to reduce the chance of disease or mortality. Soil samples (2012) around the fecal matter are also taken and tested in order to ensure that there is an active roundworm population. Road kill samples also prove to be a way to detect individuals who are infected with roundworm. This is due to animals often acting differently when diseased, as shown from canine distemper, which over time, causes changes in behavior such as losing the fear of humans, becoming unnaturally aggressive, and wandering aimlessly (Tn.gov 2013). These samples can be recovered and then examine for the possibility of roundworm.
See also
- List of parasites (human)
References
- ^ Bowman, Dwight D.; Hendrix, Charles M.; Lindsay, David S.; Barr, Steven C. (2002). Feline clinical parasitology (First ed.). Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University. p. 275. ISBN 0-8138-0333-0.
- ^ "USGS National Wildlife Health Center - Instructions for Reporting Wildlife Mortality Events". www.nwhc.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
- “Canine Distemper”. Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. 24 Oct. 2013. http://www.tn.gov/twra/distemper.html
- Dare, O.K. and Watkins, W.G. “First Record of Parasites in Cougars (Puma Concolor) in Manitoba, Canada”The Canadian Field Naturalist. 24 Oct. 2013. http://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/1378/1373
- Durant, Jean-Francois et al. “Duplex quantitative real-time PCR assay for the detection and discrimination of the eggs of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati (Nematoda, Ascridoidea) in soil and fecal samples” Parasites and Vectors 2012 5:288
- “Roundworms” Department of Natural Resources. 24 Oct. 2013. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12150_12220-27263--,00.html
- “Roundworm in Cats”. WebMD. 23 Oct. 2013. http://pets.webmd.com/cats/roundworms-cats
- “Roundworm Infection in Cats”. VCA Animal Hospitals. 23 Oct. 2013. http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/roundworm-infection-in-cats/336
- Smyser, Timothy et al. “Management of Raccoon Roundworm in Free-Ranging Populations via Anthelmintic Baiting” Journal of Wildlife Management 77:1372-1379
- “Wildlife Health an Rehabilitation”. Wi.gov. 24 Oct. 2013. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/wildlifehealth.html
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toxocara cati. |
- Roundworms: Cats and Kittens from The Pet Health Library
- Infectious diseases
- Parasitic disease: helminthiases
|
|
Flatworm/
platyhelminth |
Fluke/trematode
(Trematode infection) |
| Blood fluke |
- Schistosoma mansoni/japonicum/mekongi/haematobium
- Trichobilharzia regenti
|
|
| Liver fluke |
- Clonorchis sinensis
- Dicrocoelium dendriticum/Dicrocoelium hospes
- Fasciola hepatica/gigantica
- Opisthorchis viverrini/Opisthorchis felineus
|
|
| Lung fluke |
- Paragonimus westermani/Paragonimus kellicotti
|
|
| Intestinal fluke |
- Fasciolopsis buski
- Metagonimus yokagawai
- Heterophyes heterophyes
|
|
|
Cestoda
(Tapeworm infection) |
| Cyclophyllidea |
- Echinococcus granulosus/Echinococcus multilocularis
- Taenia saginata/Taenia asiatica/Taenia solium (pork)
- Hymenolepis nana/Hymenolepis diminuta
|
|
| Pseudophyllidea |
- Diphyllobothrium latum
- Spirometra erinaceieuropaei
- Diphyllobothrium mansonoides
|
|
|
|
Roundworm/
nematode
(Nematode
infection) |
| Secernentea |
| Spiruria |
| Camallanida |
|
|
| Spirurida |
Filarioidea
(Filariasis) |
- Onchocerca volvulus
- Loa loa
- Mansonella
- Dirofilaria repens
- Wuchereria bancrofti/Brugia malayi/Brugia timori
|
|
| Thelazioidea |
- Gnathostoma spinigerum/Gnathostoma hispidum
- Thelazia
|
|
| Spiruroidea |
|
|
|
|
Strongylida
(hookworm) |
- Hookworm infection
- Ancylostoma duodenale/Ancylostoma braziliense
- Ancylostomiasis
- Cutaneous larva migrans
- Necator americanus
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis
- Metastrongylus
|
|
| Ascaridida |
- Ascaris lumbricoides
- Anisakis
- Toxocara canis/Toxocara cati
- Visceral larva migrans/Toxocariasis
- Baylisascaris
- Dioctophyme renale
- Parascaris equorum
|
|
| Rhabditida |
- Strongyloides stercoralis
- Trichostrongylus spp.
- Halicephalobus gingivalis
|
|
| Oxyurida |
|
|
|
| Adenophorea |
- Trichinella spiralis
- Trichuris trichiura (Trichuriasis * Whipworm)
- Capillaria philippinensis
- Capillaria hepatica
|
|
|
|
Index of parasites and pests
|
|
| Description |
|
|
| Disease |
|
|
| Treatment |
|
|
|
|
Domestic cats
|
|
| Felinology |
- Cats in ancient Egypt
- Cats and Islam
- Anatomy
- Genetics
- Dwarf cat
- Kitten
- Odd-eyed cat
- Squitten
- Coat genetics
- Bicolor cat
- Black cat
- Calico cat
- Deaf white cat
- Tabby cat
- Tortoiseshell cat
|
|
| Health |
- Anesthesia
- Cat years
- Cat-scratch disease
- Declawing
- Diet
- Acne
- Asthma
- Calicivirus
- Hepatic lipidosis
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Immunodeficiency virus
- Infectious peritonitis
- Leukemia virus
- Lower urinary tract disease
- Panleukopenia
- Viral rhinotracheitis
- Flea
- Heartworm
- Neutering
- Polydactyly
- Rabies
- Ringworm
- Skin disorders
- Spaying
- Roundworm
- Tick
- Toxoplasmosis
- Vaccination
|
|
| Behavior |
- Body language
- Catfight
- Catmint/Catnip)
- Communication
- Kneading
- Intelligence
- Play and toys
- Purr
- Righting reflex
- Senses
|
|
Human–cat
interaction |
- Ailurophobia
- Animal-assisted therapy
- As pets
- Cat cafés
- Cat massage
- Cat meat
- Cat show
- Cultural depictions
- Farm cat
- Feral cat
- Ship's cat
|
|
| Registries |
- American Cat Fanciers Association
- Associazione Nazionale Felina Italiana
- Canadian Cat Association
- Cat Aficionado Association
- Cat Fanciers' Association
- Emirates Feline Federation
- Fédération Internationale Féline
- Felis Britannica
- Governing Council of the Cat Fancy
- Southern Africa Cat Council
- The International Cat Association
|
|
Breeds
(Full list) |
- Fully domestic
- Abyssinian
- American Curl
- American Shorthair
- Balinese
- Brazilian Shorthair
- British Shorthair
- Birman
- Bombay
- Burmese
- California Spangled
- Chartreux
- Chinese Li Hua
- Colorpoint Shorthair
- Cornish Rex
- Cymric
- Devon Rex
- Donskoy
- Egyptian Mau
- European Shorthair
- Exotic Shorthair
- German Rex
- Himalayan
- Japanese Bobtail
- Javanese
- Khao Manee
- Korat
- Kurilian Bobtail
- Maine Coon
- Manx
- Munchkin
- Norwegian Forest
- Ocicat
- Oriental Shorthair
- Persian
- Peterbald
- Pixie-bob
- Raas
- Ragdoll
- Ragamuffin
- Russian Blue
- Scottish Fold
- Selkirk Rex
- Siamese
- Siberian
- Singapura
- Snowshoe
- Somali
- Sphynx
- Thai
- Traditional Persian
- Tonkinese
- Toyger
- Turkish Angora
- Turkish Van
- Hybrid
- Bengal
- Chausie
- Savannah
- Serengeti
|
|
| Landraces |
- Aegean
- Cyprus
- Domestic long-haired
- Domestic short-haired
- Kellas
- Sokoke
- Van
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