Intestinal parasites in dogs and cats ("worms") can occasionally cause disease in humans. These parasites may or may not cause intestinal problems such as diarrhea or abdominal pain in dogs and cats and are shed in the feces. If people are exposed to the worms, it can cause a syndrome called "larval migrans" in which a larval stage of the parasite migrates into tissues and organs of the person causing tissue damage, necrosis and inflammation. Visceral larval migrans (VLM) refers to migration to the internal organs, neural larval migrans (NLM), to the nervous system and ocular larval migrans (OLM) refers to the eye. Roundworms (Toxacara canis or cati) can cause VLM or OLM and rarely NLM. Blindness, liver and lung damage are seen. Roundworms eggs, (which are microscopic) are usually accidentally ingested and develop in a person's intestine before migrating to other tissue. The exact symptoms of the disease are dependent on the path of the parasite. Children are much more susceptible to the disease.

Hookworms (Ancyostoma cannium) most often cause cutaneous larval migrans (CLM). Persons, often times children, are exposed to the larval forms in the soil or sand and the larvae penetrate the skin and migrate thought the tissue, causing damage.

Tapeworms can occasionally be ingested by people and can cause digestive upset, and people can shed the tape worm segments in their feces if infected. A rarer tapeworm (echinococcis) can cause internal cysts, sometimes in the liver or lungs.

The raccoon carries a round worm called Baylisascaris causes NLM and is highly fatal. The infection has been seen in children and young adults who were exposed to raccoon feces. It is thought that the prevalence of the parasite in raccoons is very high so it is important to exercise caution around raccoons or their feces.

Prevention

• Deworm puppies and kittens and also adult dogs and cats.
• Wash hands well after handling dog and cat feces.
• Keep sand boxes covered.

For more information go to:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/factsht_toxocara.htm
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm
www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Taeniasis.htm
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/alveolarechinococcosis/default.htm

Prevention - Racoons

• Do not keep raccoons as pets.
• Clean up raccoon feces that are present in human areas as soon as possible. Bury or burn feces and decontaminate surfaces with boiling water.
• Wash hands or use gloves when handling all wild animals including raccoons.

For more information go to www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/baylisacaris/factsht_baylisascaris.htm