Migratory pattern of zoonoticToxocara catiandT. canisin experimentally infected pigs

Abstract

AbstractOver a billion people are infected withToxocara canisorT. cati, the roundworms of dogs and cats. Historically,T. canishas been considered the main responsible of human toxocarosis but as serodiagnosis cannot discriminate the two species, this remains unresolved. We assessed the migratory pattern ofT. catiandT. canisin a pig model and found them to be equally infective. Overall, they had a similar migration pattern reaching multiple organs and tissues, including mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lungs and diaphragm. We recovered larvae of both species in the brain, suggesting thatT. catialso can cause neurological toxocarosis in humans. Both species induced systemic eosinophilia and histopathological changes in lungs, livers and mesenteric lymph nodes. This study emphasizes the importance ofT. catias a zoonotic agent and the need to develop diagnostic methods that can differentiate between sources of infection in humans.