Which disease is caused by the larvae of two species of Toxocara roundworms?

Which disease is caused by the larvae of two species of Toxocara roundworms?

• A. Toxocariasis
• B. Toxoplasmosis
• C. Trichinosis
• D. Ascariasis

Answer: (A)

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic larval migrans disease caused by the larvae of two Toxocara roundworms, Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Humans become accidental hosts when eggs from dog or cat feces are ingested, and the larvae migrate through tissues rather than completing a life cycle in us. This can lead to visceral larva migrans, with fever, eosinophilia, hepatosplenomegaly, and respiratory or abdominal symptoms, or ocular larva migrans, which can impair vision. The other conditions are caused by different organisms: toxoplasmosis is due to the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii; trichinosis comes from Trichinella spiralis in undercooked meat; and ascariasis is due to Ascaris lumbricoides. Thus, the disease tied to larvae of two Toxocara species is toxocariasis.

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic larval migrans disease caused by the larvae of two Toxocara roundworms, Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Humans become accidental hosts when eggs from dog or cat feces are ingested, and the larvae migrate through tissues rather than completing a life cycle in us. This can lead to visceral larva migrans, with fever, eosinophilia, hepatosplenomegaly, and respiratory or abdominal symptoms, or ocular larva migrans, which can impair vision. The other conditions are caused by different organisms: toxoplasmosis is due to the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii; trichinosis comes from Trichinella spiralis in undercooked meat; and ascariasis is due to Ascaris lumbricoides. Thus, the disease tied to larvae of two Toxocara species is toxocariasis.