Analysis of pathogenic characteristics induced by Toxocara cati in experimental mouse model

Toxocara cati is a kind of round worm which parasitize in Felidea. Their larvae can infect human and induce toxocariasis. In human body, the larvae uncontrollably migrate and induce multi-organ damages. However, characteristics of toxocariasis in human are not fully understood. In this study, mice were used as a model of toxocariasis produced by intraperitoneal infection of T. cati larvae. The pathogenic characteristics were assessed by histopathology and the recovery of these worms from the animal organs after infection. Our results showed that the larvae induced remarkable damages in the liver and lungs and a countable number of larvae was found in the brain after 4 weeks of infection. The data indicates a high risk that the worms can make in human and requires further investigations.