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Larval migration of Toxocara canis in piglets and transfer of larvae from infected porcine tissue to mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2008

N.K. Sasmal ,
S. Acharya  and
R. Laha
N.K. Sasmal
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, 37, K.B. Sarani, Kolkata-700 037, West Bengal, India
S. Acharya
Affiliation:
Directorate of Animal Resource Development, Government of West Bengal, India
R. Laha*
Affiliation:
Scientist Selection Grade, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, 37, Belgachia Road, Kolkata-700 037, India
*
*E-mail: lahar31@rediffmail.com
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Abstract

Visceral larva migrans (VLM), caused by Toxocara canis larvae in humans, animals and birds, is now well documented throughout the world. Seven piglets were infected orally with 5 × 104 embryonated eggs and the migration and distribution of T. canis larvae in the tissues were evaluated. After artificial gastric juice digestion, larval yields at necropsy from different organs and muscles on days 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 post-infection (DPI) revealed 3.05, 0.97, 0.21, 0.13, 0.05, 0.14% recovery from liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, skeletal muscles and brain tissues respectively, with a total of 2486 (4.97%) recovery from all tissues together. The highest number of larvae 1527 (3.05%) was recovered from the liver throughout the period (1–30 DPI), indicating a special affinity of larvae for the liver. Subsequently five mice were each infected orally with 5 g of infected pig liver and, after necropsy on 10 DPI, 20 ± 3.62, 17 ± 5.10, 3 ± 1.26, 12 ± 3.92 and 30 ± 5.69 larvae were recovered from liver, lungs, heart, brain and muscles, respectively. Thus, primarily, the migratory potential and adaptation of T. canis larvae in porcine tissue was examined and, subsequently, their establishment in the second paratenic host, the mouse, has been successful. No influence of host sex on the migratory potential of T. canis larvae was observed. The related pathology caused by migratory larvae and its zoonotic significance through the consumption of raw or undercooked pork has been emphasized.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , September 2008 , pp. 245 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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