|  | 
Category: Feline
Ascarid infection
Roundworm infection
AffectedAnimals:
Cats or dogs. Kittens are affected more commonly than adult cats. Outdoor cats are more likely to become infected with roundworms, especially if they hunt.
Overview:
The intestinal parasite that affects cats most often, feline roundworms are an especially common problem among kittens and outdoor cats that hunt. There are two species of the roundworm, or ascarid, which infect cats: Toxocara cati and Toxocara leonina. These worms can be passed on to kittens in the milk they nurse from their infected mother; cats also may get them by eating small animals that harbor the parasite. In addition, a cat may become infected by licking its paw after walking on soil contaminated with infective roundworm eggs.
Diarrhea and vomiting are common symptoms of roundworm infestation, and, when severe, can lead to dehydration. Generally, the infection has a more serious impact on kittens than on adult cats, which may show no outward symptoms of the disease. Nevertheless, all cats and kittens, even those who are asymptomatic, should be dewormed because roundworms can cause illness in humans.
Young children who play in uncovered sandboxes or dirt where outdoor cats have been known to defecate are especially at risk for contracting the parasite. Although uncommon, roundworm infection can lead to serious diseases in humans, including blindness and disorders of the central nervous system.
|