Toxascaris leonina

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Also known as: Toxascaris limbata

Scientific Classification

Class Nematoda
Superfamily Ascaridoidea

Hosts

Dogs, cats, and foxes.

Identification

It is similar in appearance to Toxocara canis, but slightly smaller at around 10cm in length. There are three large lips surrounding the mouth, and there is no buccal capsule.

The eggs are ovid, around 75μm in length, with a thick outer shell.

Life Cycle

The infective stage of T. leonina is L2, which are found in the egg. The eggs are ingested by the host, hatch, and enter the alimentary tract. The larvae then penetrate the wal of the intestine. The larvae continue to develop and mature into adults. The adults live in the lumen of the intestine. In the host:

    • there is no prenatal transmission
    • there is no transmammary transmission
    • there is no hepato-tracheal migration.

The prepatent period is 10-11 weeks.