Strongyloides Infection

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                      General Information



Strongyloides stercoralis is a small roundworm found in cats,

dogs, foxes and occasionally people.  The worms are about 1/16

of an inch long and live in the intestinal lining.  Eggs hatch

while still in the intestine.  Larvae (immature worms) are passed

in the feces and can reinfect the host animal or others by being

eaten or by skin penetration.



Diagnosis is by finding the larvae during microscopic examination

of the feces.  The specimen must be free from dirt and relatively

fresh to ensure accurate diagnosis.



Loss of appetite, cough, discharge from the eyes and later

development of diarrhea are signs of infection.  The disease

lowers resistance to other infections and may resemble or occur

with canine distemper.



                  Public Health Significance



People are usually infected by larvae that penetrate the bare

feet as a person walks through contaminated soil.  The larvae

travel to the lungs via the bloodstream, and then are passed in

the feces within 2-3 weeks.



                 Important Points in Treatment



1.  Diet:  Follow the instructions checked.



    ____Feed the normal diet.



    ____Feed a special diet as follows:





2.  Control:



    ____Remove feces daily from the kennel or yard.



    ____Relocate kennels or exercise area as follows:





       Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:



    * Your pet continues to have diarrhea.



    * Your pet continues to lose weight.



    * Your pet begins to cough.



    * Your pet has blood in the stools.



    * Your pet has muscle twitches or convulsions.



    ____A stool sample is requested.