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Created page with '=== '''''TOXOSCARIS LEONINA''''' === ''T. leonina'' is a little smaller (up to 10cm), but otherwise similar in appearance to ''T. canis''. With a female worm, …'
=== '''''TOXOSCARIS LEONINA''''' ===
''T. leonina'' is a little smaller (up to 10cm), but otherwise similar in appearance to ''[[Toxocara canis|T. canis]]''. With a female worm, the easiest way to tell them apart is to cut it open and examine the eggs under the microscope. The eggs of ''Toxoscaris'' are smooth and pale; whilst those of ''Toxocara'' species are dark and pitted.

The biology of ''T. leonina'' is generally similar to that of ''T. canis'', '''except''':
*it infects both felidae and canidae
*in the final host:
**there is '''no prenatal transmission'''
**there is '''no transmammary transmission'''
**there is '''no hepato-tracheal migration'''
*in 'paratenic' hosts:
**develops to L3 in tissues (the 'paratenic' hosts therefore are really facultative intermediate hosts).

Transmission is via ingestion of the embryonated egg or an infected 'paratenic' host. The zoonotic potential is uncertain, but ''T. leonina'' is not thought to be as hazardous as ''T. canis''.

[[Category:Ascaridoidea]][[Category:Dog_Nematodes]]
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