Toxocara canis in Australia.

Abstract

This review covers reports on prevalence Toxocara in dogs from 2000 to the present and views of the veterinary community as to the importance of it as a zoonosis within Australia. The contamination of soils in public areas with eggs of this parasite seems overall to be minimal for reasons related to required collection of faeces from pets and the use of routine deworming and combination dewormers associated with heartworm prevention. The potential of other canid hosts being sources of eggs is likely common, especially with the increasing red fox and wild dog populations in more urbanized environs. Human associated disease, e.g., visceral and ocular larva migrans, is reported very rarely in Australia.