The Migratory Behaviour of Toxocara Canis and Toxocara Vitulorum in Balb/c Mice

Abstract

The migratory behaviours of Toxocara canis and Toxocara vitulorum were studied in six weeks old BALB\c mice during early phase of infection. Mice were orally infected with 500 embryonated eggs of either T. canis or T. vitulorum. The larvae of T. canis and T. vitulorum were recovered in the liver on day one post infection (pi) until 10 days pi. In the lungs the larvae of T. canis were recovered on day 1 pi whereas those of T. vitulorum were recovered 3 days pi. Toxocara canis and T. vitulorum larvae were recovered in the brain from day 3 pi up to day 10 pi for T. vitulorum and up to day 28 pi for T. canis when the experiment was terminated. Toxocara canis and T. vitulorum larvae were recovered in the hind leg muscles of mice from day 3 pi up to day 28 pi when the experiment was terminated. Measurements of larvae on day 3 ad 7 pi indicated that the larvae had increased in size. The findings of the study indicated that both T. vitulorum and T. canis have a somatic type of migration in Balb/c mice. Zimbabwe Veterinary Journal (2002) 33; 7-13