TY - JOUR

T1 - Migratory pattern of zoonotic Toxocara cati and T. canis in experimentally infected pigs

AU - Poulsen, Casper Sahl

AU - Yoshida, Ayako

AU - Wellbrant, Tinna Thordardottir

AU - Leifsson, Pall Skuli

AU - Skallerup, Per

AU - Thamsborg, Stig Milan

AU - Nejsum, Peter

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Background: Over a billion people are infected with Toxocara canis or T. cati, the roundworms of dogs and cats. Historically, T. canis has been considered the main species responsible for human toxocarosis, but as serodiagnosis cannot discriminate between the two species, this remains unresolved. We used pigs as a relevant large animal model for human infection to assess the migratory pattern of T. cati and T. canis. Methods: Pigs were inoculated with T. cati or T. canis eggs or PBS (negative controls) and necropsied 14 or 31 days later. Different organs and tissues were examined for parasites and pathological changes. Results: Overall, the two parasite species had a similar migration pattern reaching multiple organs and tissues, including the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and diaphragm. We recovered larvae of both species in the brain, suggesting that T. cati also can cause neurological toxocarosis in humans. Both species induced systemic eosinophilia and histopathological changes in the lungs, livers, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Conclusion: This study emphasises the importance of T. cati as a zoonotic agent and the need to develop diagnostic methods that can differentiate between sources of infection in humans.

AB - Background: Over a billion people are infected with Toxocara canis or T. cati, the roundworms of dogs and cats. Historically, T. canis has been considered the main species responsible for human toxocarosis, but as serodiagnosis cannot discriminate between the two species, this remains unresolved. We used pigs as a relevant large animal model for human infection to assess the migratory pattern of T. cati and T. canis. Methods: Pigs were inoculated with T. cati or T. canis eggs or PBS (negative controls) and necropsied 14 or 31 days later. Different organs and tissues were examined for parasites and pathological changes. Results: Overall, the two parasite species had a similar migration pattern reaching multiple organs and tissues, including the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and diaphragm. We recovered larvae of both species in the brain, suggesting that T. cati also can cause neurological toxocarosis in humans. Both species induced systemic eosinophilia and histopathological changes in the lungs, livers, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Conclusion: This study emphasises the importance of T. cati as a zoonotic agent and the need to develop diagnostic methods that can differentiate between sources of infection in humans.

KW - Histopathology

KW - Migration pattern

KW - Pathology

KW - Toxocara canis

KW - Toxocara cati

KW - Zoonosis

U2 - 10.1007/s10096-024-04753-7

DO - 10.1007/s10096-024-04753-7

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38261158

AN - SCOPUS:85182867551

VL - 43

SP - 587

EP - 596

JO - European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

JF - European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

SN - 0934-9723

ER -