THIS IS THE OFFICIAL LINE ON INGESTION.....SAME INFO THAT NHS DIRECT USE
ALERT BOX
All patients who are pregnant or immunosuppressed or those who are symptomatic should be referred for medical assessment.
Other asymptomatic patients do not need immediate referral, but should seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
Type of Product
Faeces from dogs and cats.
Ingredients
Sometimes contain infectious forms of:
Toxocara catis - cat faeces
Toxocara canis - dog faeces
Toxplasmosis gondii ? cat faeces
Toxicity
There is a small risk of transmission of toxocarosis from ingestion of cat or dog faeces, and additionally of toxoplasmosis from ingestion of cat faeces. No ill health effects are expected in the vast majority of patients.
Toxocarosis
Toxocarosis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasitic roundworms (Toxocara) found in the intestines of some cats and dogs. These roundworms lay their eggs in the infected animals' faeces. Fresh faeces are not a problem as the Toxocara eggs are not infectious when first excreted. It takes 10-21 days for the eggs to become infective (HPA Summary Information on Toxocarosis, 2011). However, Toxocara eggs in old faeces can remain infectious for several years. If infective eggs are swallowed, they can release larvae, which burrow from the intestine and can migrate to many parts of the body.
Toxocarosis is not a notifiable disease in England and Wales, however laboratory confirmed cases were between 1 and 12 each year between 2001-2010 (Zoonoses Report UK 2010, DEFRA 2010).
Toxoplasmosis
Toxplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasitic protozoa called Toxoplasma gondii transmitted to humans by several different means including in the faeces of infected cats. Only approximately 10% of healthy people infected develop mild to moderate flu like or glandular fever like symptoms (HPA Information for Health Professionals: Toxoplasmosis, 2011). These symptoms are usually self-limiting and do not require treatment, however toxoplasmosis can cause serious complications in immunosuppressed patients. If a pregnant woman becomes infected it can cause a serious risk to the foetus.
Features
Toxocarosis
Most cases do not involve infective Toxocara eggs and therefore patients remain asymptomatic.
Four Toxocara syndromes can occur:
Asymptomatic toxocarosis ? confirmed by detection of antibodies in the blood.
Covert (mild) toxocarosis ? weakness, lethargy, skin rash, pruritis, coughing, wheezing, headache, muscle pain, nausea, abdominal pain, swollen lymph glands and anaemia.
Visceral toxocarosis (visceral larva migrans ? VLM) ? more likely in younger children (aged 2-4 years). Fever, hepatosplenomegaly, swollen lymph glands, coughing, wheezing, skin rash, pallor, CNS symptoms (e.g. convulsions) and cardiac features may occur.
Ocular toxocarosis (Ocular larva migrans ? OLM) ? more likely in older children and adults. Loss of visual acuity (blurred vision to blindness) usually in one eye. Permanent loss of visual acuity is possible.
Toxoplasmosis
Flu-like or glandular fever like features occur in approximately 10% of healthy people infected. Chorioretinitis and encephalitis could occur in immunosuppressed patients, and infection in pregnant women could lead to congenital abnormalities in the newborn.
Management
- No ill health effects are expected in the vast majority of patients.
- Discuss all possible features of infection with the local infection control team.
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Other measures as indicated by the patient's clinical condition.
Patients should be advised on discharge to seek medical attention if symptoms subsequently develop.
Links
Toxocarosis
HPA Summary Information on Toxocarosis
HPA Background Information on Toxocarosis
Scottish Parasite Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory
Zoonoses Report UK 2010, DEFRA 2010
Toxoplasmosis
HPA Information for Health Professionals: Toxoplasmosis
HPA General Information on Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory