Dog and Cat Common Nematodes

Toxocara canis

roundworm of dog

PPP Toxocara canis

~6 weeks

where Toxocara canis live

small intestine

most common endoparasite of dogs especially puppies

Toxocara canis

Toxocara canis infection mode

ingestion of egg

ingestion of paratenic host (rodent)

transmammary

transplacental

life cycle of Toxocara canis

parasite enter then migrates through organs to lungs then coughed up and swallowed into small intestine then eggs passed in poop

Toxocara cati

roundworm of cats

PPP Toxocara cati

~7 weeks

where Toxocara cati live

small intestine

most common endoparasite of cats especially kittens

Toxocara cati

infection mode Toxocara cati

ingestion of egg

ingestion of paratenic host (rodent)

transmammary

life cycle Toxocara cati

parasite enter then migrates through organs to lungs then coughed up and swallowed into small intestine then eggs passed in poop

clinical signs Toxocara canis

pot belly

dry lack-luster coat

underweight

vomiting

diarrhea

coughing

clinical signs Toxocara cati

pot belly

dry lack-luster coat

underweight

vomiting

diarrhea

coughing

diagnosis Toxocara spp.

fecal floatation

Toxocara spp. zoonotic

fecal oral route

dont mature in humans

children most vulnerable

visceral larva migrans

ocular larva migrans

Toxascaris leonina

roundworm of dog

PPP Toxascaris leonina

6-9 weeks

where Toxascaris leonina live

small intestine

clinical signs Toxascaris leonina

pot belly

dry lack-luster coat

underweight

vomiting

diarrhea

coughing

infection mode Toxascaris leonina

ingestion of egg

ingestion of paratenic host (rodent)

diagnosis Toxascaris leonina

fecal floatation

Baylisascaris procyonis

roundworm of raccoon

Baylisascaris procyonis zoonotic

visceral larva migrans

ocular larva migrans

CNS migration

Ancylostoma caninum

hookworm of dogs

where Ancylostoma caninum live

small intestine

PPP Ancylostoma caninum

~2 weeks

infection mode Ancylostoma caninum

ingestion of larva

ingestion of paratenic host (vertebrates)

transmammary

transplacental

transcutaneous

Ancylostoma tubaeformae

hookworm of cats

PPP Ancylostoma tubaeformae

3 weeks

where Ancylostoma tubaeformae live

small intestine

infection mode Ancylostoma tubaeformae

ingestion of larva

ingestion of paratenic host

transcutaneous

Ancylostoma braziliense

hookworm of dogs and cats

where Ancylostoma braziliense live

small intestine

Ancylostoma braziliense location

warmer tropical regions

brought with imported pets

Ancylostoma spp. clinical signs

anemia

diarrhea

weakness

melena

dermatitis (feet)

respiratory disease

diagnosis Ancylostoma spp.

fecal floatation

fecal antigen testing

Uncinaria stenocephala

Northern canine hookworm

of dogs and cats

PPP Uncinaria stenocephala

2 weeks

Uncinaria stenocephala location

colder climates

where Uncinaria stenocephala live

small intestine

infection mode Uncinaria stenocephala

ingestion of larva

ingestion of paratenic host

transcutaneous

clinical signs Uncinaria stenocephala

usually none

hypoproteinemia

dehydration

weakness

respiratory disease

dermatitis (feet)

diagnosis Uncinaria stenocephala

fecal floatation

fecal antigen testing

skin biopsy

hookworm zoonosis

fecal oral

trancutaneous

most cases from A. braziliense

Trichuris vulpis

whipworm of dog, fox, coyote

PPP Trichuris vulpis

3 months

where Trichuris vulpis live

large intestine

cecum

clinical signs trichuris vulpis

in dogs

severe diarrhea

anemia

hematochezia (fresh blood in poop)

infection mode Trichuris vulpis

ingestion of egg

diagnosis Trichuris vulpis

fecal floatation

Trichuris vulpis zoonitic

rarely

Trichuris campanula

T. serrata

whipworm of cats

where Trichuris campanula and T. serrata live

cecum

colon

diagnosis Trichuris campanula and T. serrata

fecal floatation

Physaloptera spp.

stomach worm of dogs and cats

PPP Physaloptera spp.

58-83 days (8-12 weeks)

where Physaloptera spp. live

stomach

ingestion mode of Physaloptera spp.

ingestion of intermediate host

clinical signs Physaloptera spp.

vomiting

anorexia

gastritis

anemia

diagnosis Physaloptera spp.

fecal floatation but not great

sometimes fecal sedimentation

larva in vomit

endoscopy (camera through mouth to stomach)

Spirocerca lupi

esophageal worm of dogs

PPP Spirocerca lupi

5-6 months

infection mode Spirocerca lupi

ingestion of intermediate host dung beetle

ingestion of paratenic host (rodents, frogs, lizards)

clinical signs Spirocerca lupi

vomiting

dysphagia

weight loss

lesions predispose to tumors

where Spirocerca lupi live

esophagus

sometimes stomach

diagnosis Spirocerca lupi

fecal floatation

endoscopy

ova paperclip-like appearance

Strongyloides stercoralis

threadworm of dogs and cats

PPP Strongyloides stercoralis

8-14 days

infection mode Strongyloides stercoralis

transcutaneous

ingestion of larva

clinical signs Strongyloides stercoralis

severe diarrhea

respiratory disease

dermatitis

diagnosis Strongyloides stercoralis

baermann technique

skin scraping

Strongyloides stercoralis zoonotic

yes

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

lungworm of cats

where Aelurostrongylus abstrusus live

lungs

where Strongyloides stercoralis live

small intestine

PPP Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

5-6 weeks

clinical signs Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

chronic coughing

asymptomatic

infection mode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

ingestion of intermediate host (snail, slug)

ingestion of paratenis host (bird, rodents, etc)

diagnosis Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

baermann technique

bronchoalveolar lavage

Eucoleus spp. (Capillaria spp.)

lungworm of dogs and cats

where Eucoleus spp. (Capillaria spp.) live

trahcea

bronchi

bronchioles

PPP Eucoleus spp. (Capillaria spp.)

6-7 weeks

infection mode Eucoleus spp. (Capillaria spp.)

ingestion of egg

ingestion of paratenic host (earthworm)

clinical signs Eucoleus spp. (Capillaria spp.)

sometimes nothing

sometimes bronchitis

diagnosis Eucoleus spp. (Capillaria spp.)

fecal floatation

tracheal wash

Crenosoma vulpis

Fox lungworm - found in dogs in atlantic canada

where Crenosoma vulpis live

trachea

bronchi

bronchioles

diagnosis Crenosoma vulpis

baermann technique

ingestion mode Crenosoma vulpis

ingestion of intermediate host (snail)

clinical signs Crenosoma vulpis

mild chronic cough

Angiostrongylus vasorum

French heartworm of dogs and foxes

actually a lungworm

where Angiostrongylus vasorum live

pulmonary artery

right ventricle

PPP Angiostrongylus vasorum

38-57 days (5-8 weeks)

diagnosis Angiostrongylus vasorum

baermann technique

antigen testing

Angiostrongylus vasorum zoonotic

yes

infection mode Angiostrongylus vasorum

ingestion of intermediate host (snail)

Pearsonema plica

bladder worm of dogs and cats

where Pearsonema plica live

mucosa of bladder

PPP Pearsonema plica

2 months