Thelaziosis Of Cats

Thelaziosis Of Cats
Thelaziosis Of Cats

Video: Thelaziosis Of Cats

Video: Thelaziosis Of Cats
Video: Thelazia (eyeworm) 2024, March
Anonim

Telasia (Thelazia californiensis) is a parasite that causes a disease in cats, dogs, deer, sheep, and other mammals known as thelaziosis. It is quite rare, but its example shows that parasitic worms can live almost everywhere.

The causative agents of this disease choose the lacrimal ducts as their habitat. This disease is not serious for animals, but as you can imagine, it is very unpleasant. In rare cases, humans can also become infected.

Adult calves in the eye of an animal, photo cat parasites photography
Adult calves in the eye of an animal, photo cat parasites photography

Calf in the eye of a dog (Thelazia californiensis)

How do calves breed? Adult females of the parasite lay eggs in the lacrimal duct, from which later larvae appear. Then they enter the body of flies, where they develop within 30 days. When the fly sits near the animal's eye, the larva crawls out and enters the eye of its new host. After 3-6 weeks, she turns into an adult, and the cycle repeats.

Symptoms of a thelaziosis infection. In general, symptoms are mild. Due to eye irritation, animals may have increased lacrimation, sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis. A secondary bacterial infection may develop. 28-38% of horses in England and the United States are infected with this parasite.

Adult parasites can be found in the conjunctival sac or tear ducts. They are thin worms 1-2 cm long. Eggs and larvae can be detected under a microscope by examining tears and discharge from the eye.

Treatment. Adult worms can be removed by applying a local anesthetic to the eye. Subcutaneous administration of ivermectin gives a good result.

Prevention of thelaziosis. The best way to keep this disease from spreading is to control the growth of the fly population that carries the parasite.

Copyright © Zooclub portal (www.zooclub.ru)

Recommended: