Histopathologic changes and larval recovery of Toxocara cati in experimentally infected chickens

Abstract

This study was made to determine the distribution pattern of Toxocara cati larvae in chickens as a paratenic host and its potential zoonotic risk by consuming infected chickens. Two groups of chickens were fed with 1,000 and 3,000 embryonated eggs of T. cati. The chickens were necropsied 3, 7, 14, and 21 days postinfection. The liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen, small intestine, and half of all the striated muscles were digested for larval recovery. Squash method was used for brain. Larvae were recovered from the liver and brain of infected chickens with 1,000 embryonated eggs. Samples of these tissues were prepared for histopathologic studies. Experimental chickens exhibited hemorrhages in the liver, lungs, and kidneys on all days postinfections (dpi). White spots on the liver surfaces that showed necrotic foci, infiltration of eosinophils, and a few lymphocytes around necrotic areas were seen on 14 and 21 dpi. Remains of larvae were present in the liver on 14 dpi. Pathologic findings showed that larvae migrated in different organs of chickens. We suggest that chickens could be paratenic hosts, and human infection with T. cati might occur after consumption of raw or undercooked meat of infected chicken with T. cati.

Longevity of Toxocara cati Larvae and Pathology in Tissues of Experimentally Infected Chickens

“…Pathological findings in the lungs of the infected chickens were new and different from the previous short term observation [1]. Hyperplasia of BALT and goblet cells shows the defense mechanism to the chronic infection.…”

Study on the contamination of Abadan public parks soil with Toxocara spp. eggs

“…Infection acquire via the ingestion of infective ova with vegetables or pica or by ingesting products of contaminated paratenic hosts [1-3]. The larva hatch in small intestine and immigrates to other organs, almost to liver and cause visceral larva migrans (VLM) or localizes in eyes and causes ocular larva migrans (OLM) [4-7].…”

A Comparative Seroprevalence Study of Toxocariasis in Hypereosinophilic and Apparently Healthy Individuals

“…The disease mainly affects children under five yearsof-age. Human infection occurs through ingestion of embryonated eggs from the soil, dirty hands, uncooked vegetables, and paratenic hosts (2). The most widely recognized source of human infection is ingestion of contaminated soil followed by paratenic hosts (2-7).…”