RABBITS AS PARATENIC HOSTS OF TOXOCARA CANIS

Abstract

Toxocariasis is both a veterinary and medical problem worldwide. A feature of Toxocara biology is that Toxocara larvae commit visceral larva migrans, damage the liver, lungs, and other organs and tissues in non-specific hosts, including humans. Constant reinvasion leads to the accumulation of stage 2–3 larvae in the body of nonspecific (paratenic) hosts. The problem of parasitological contamination of soil on the territory of rabbit farms and the risks of infection of rabbits were considered. Therefore, it became necessary to study the involvement of the rabbit as a paratenic host in toxocariasis. An experiment was conducted on Soviet Chinchilla rabbits. Toxocara eggs were administered orally. Hematological parameters were examined according to common methods. In order to identify specific IgG antibodies, blood serum was examined by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). IgG present in the rabbits’ blood serum with a positive titer (1:100) in ELISA allows us to conclude that rabbits along with other animals are paratenic hosts of Toxocara canis. Hematological parameters in the animals of the experimental and control groups did not have significant differences and were within the physiological range throughout the entire experiment.