02050nas a2200145   4500008004100000022002200041245009000063210006900153260015200222300001400374490000700388520136000395100002401755856012501779       2003                        eng d  a0893-8512 (Print)00aToxocariasis: clinical aspects, epidemiology, medical ecology, and molecular aspects.0 aToxocariasis clinical aspects epidemiology medical ecology and m  aDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. ddd1@columbia.edu  a265–2720 v163 aToxocariasis is caused by a series of related nematode species (ascarids) that routinely infect dogs and cats throughout the world. The eggs from these ascarids are common environmental contaminants of human habitation, due largely to the fact that many kinds of dogs and cats serve as pets, while countless others run wild throughout the streets of most urban centers. The eggs, present in dog and cat feces, become infectious within weeks after they are deposited in the local environment (e.g., sandboxes, city parks, and public beaches, etc.). Humans, particularly children, frequently ingest these eggs by accident and become infected. Infection in humans, in contrast to their definitive hosts, remains occult, often resulting in disease caused by the migrating larval stages. Visceral larva migrans (VLM) and ocular larva migrans (OLM) are two clinical manifestations that result in definable syndromes and present as serious health problems wherever they occur. Diagnosis and treatment of VLM and OLM are difficult. These issues are summarized in this review, with emphasis on the ecology of transmission and control of spread to both humans and animals through public health initiatives employing treatment of pets and environmental intervention strategies that limit the areas that dogs and cats are allowed within the confines of urban centers.1 aDespommier, Dickson  uhttps://nematoda.myspecies.info/content/toxocariasis-clinical-aspects-epidemiology-medical-ecology-and-molecular-aspects