A few UK news outlets published a story the other day about a toddler with a severe eye infection that was attributed to Toxocara canis, the canine roundworm. Some parts of it didn’t make a lot of sense so I held off commenting, but the story’s spreading more widely now so I might as well
Russian poop patrols
Apparently, Moscow parks are somewhat hazardous, at last in terms of where you step. Moscow dog owners have historically done a poor job of picking up after their dogs, and local officials are trying to intervene. Soon, all Moscow parks will have paper bags and plastic scoops for people to use to pick up after
Parasite exposure from pets
A recent study from the Netherlands investigated the prevalence of zoonotic parasites in pet feces and on pets’ haircoats. The authors sampled feces and fur from dogs and cats, and looked for Toxocara (roundworms), Toxoplasma, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. All these parasites are of concern from a public health standpoint because they can be found
UK man campaigns to educate about Toxocara
A UK man is on a campaign to raise awareness about Toxocara, following an infection that blinded the child of a family friend. Mike Kennedy, chairman of the Grange Residents’ Association, is raising awareness about the importance of picking up "dog dirt" (i.e. dog stool).
Toxocara canis is an intestinal parasite that can be