Toxocariasis: A Global Public Health Challenge and Its Preventive Strategies

Toxocara canisorToxocara catiinfections in humans are referred to clinically as toxocariasis.Both of them belong to the family Toxocaridae,superfamily Ascaridiodea, and order Ascaridida.Their definitive hosts are domestic dogs and cats,where they reside in the small intestinal lumen as adults. Man becomes infected when he accidentally consumes eggs that contain larvae, whichare frequently found in contaminatedsoil, animal excrement, or environmental sources. The two separate clinical entities that represent the illness in humans are ocular larva migrans and visceral larva migrans (VLM).The public healthimportance of toxocariasis depends onits relatively high prevalence, particularlyon those areaswith inadequate sanitation and where pet animals are not regularly dewormed.Children's inclination for hand-to-mouth actions and increased chance of coming into contact with contaminated dirt put them at higher risk. Early detection and appropriate intervention are crucial because of the long-term effects of misdiagnosed or undetected cases, which include developmental delays or irreversible vision impairment. A major but sometimes overlooked public health issue, toxocariasis requires coordinated efforts from all sectors to lessen its effects andlower its incidence worldwide.