Dipylidium caninum and Taenia ovis is the dog tapeworm and Taenia taeniaeformis is the cat tapeworm.įor lifestyle block and farming communities - when accidentally ingested, the eggs of the dog tapeworm Taenia ovis may cause sheep measles in sheep. Cats may also acquire tapeworms when they ingest infected rodents. Tapeworms in dogs and cats may be acquired by the accidental ingestion of infected fleas. A condition known as visceral larval migrans or less frequently, occular larval migrans, may be observed in humans following an infection with either T.canis or T.cati. Read more about roundworms here. T.canis and T.cati are both zoonotic, meaning that they can cause disease in humans, if accidentally ingested. Adult animals may pick up the infection by coming in contact with the worm eggs in infected soil, dust and faeces. Puppies and kittens acquire infections by these worms through the placenta and/or their mother's milk. Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina are the primary roundworms of concern in dogs Toxocara cati is the primary roundworm of concern in cats. Find out more about these parasites below: There are several different types of intestinal worms that may affect your dog and cat, some of which may be hazardous to human health as well. If you have any questions about the parasites described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.De-Worming Your Cat and Dog What intestinal worms should I ensure my pet is treated for? This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. Prompt disposal of animal feces prevents eggs from hatching and contaminating soil - which makes it important for control of this parasitic infection. Routine veterinary care of dogs and cats, including regular deworming, will reduce environmental contamination with zoonotic hookworm eggs and larvae.
#TREATMENT FOR FELINE HOOKWORMS IN HUMANS SKIN#
Travelers to tropical and subtropical climates, especially where beach exposures are likely, should be advised to wear shoes and use protective mats or other coverings to prevent direct skin contact with sand or soil. Wearing shoes and taking other protective measures to avoid skin contact with sand or soil will prevent infection with zoonotic hookworms. How can I prevent animal hookworm infection? For example, this can happen if a child is walking barefoot or playing in an area where dogs or cats have been (especially puppies or kittens). The larvae in the contaminated soil or sand will burrow into the skin and cause the skin to become irritated in that area. People may become infected while walking barefoot or when exposed skin comes in contact with contaminated soil or sand. The eggs can hatch into larvae, and both eggs and larvae may be found in dirt where animals have been. Animals that are infected pass hookworm eggs in their stools. Puppies and kittens are especially likely to have hookworm infections. Antiparasitic treatments may be prescribed by your health care provider. However, treatment may help control symptoms and help prevent secondary bacterial infections. In most patients with CLM, the signs and symptoms resolve without medical treatment. The animal hookworm larvae that cause cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) usually do not survive more than 5 – 6 weeks in the human host. What is the treatment for animal hookworm infection? There is no blood test for animal hookworm infection. See your health care provider to discuss the possibility of infection and, if necessary, to be examined. What should I do if I think I have hookworm infection? In rare cases, certain types of animal hookworm may infect the intestine and cause abdominal pain, discomfort, and diarrhea. The symptoms of itching and pain can last several weeks before the larvae die and the reaction to the larvae resolves. Raised, red tracks appear in the skin where the larvae have been and these tracks may move in the skin day to day, following the larvae’s movements. People are infected when animal hookworm larvae penetrate the skin, causing a local reaction that is red and itchy. Most animal hookworm infections result in a skin condition called cutaneous larva migrans. Courtesy Vince Conte, MD, Miami-Dade County Health Department Cutaneous larval migrans (CLM) in a person's foot.