posted by Tess on Sep 2
Roundworms are common feline parasites that can infect cats of all ages. During a lifetime practically all cats get infected at one time or another because roundworms can even transmit to kittens through the lactating mother.
There are two species of roundworm that predominantly infect cats.
* Toxocara cati
* Toxascaris leonina
Eggs of Toxocara cati pass through the feces of an infected cat. The embryonic worm in the microscopic egg needs a month in the open environment to reach its infective stage. Having reached the infective stage, Toxocara eggs can weather harsh conditions and survive for years.
This second stage larvae are ingested by a cat or by another animal. They hatch in the intestines. This is the primary host of the roundworm. The young roundworm then migrates and gets encysted in other body tissues of the host.
If the primary host is a cat, larvae get encysted in the cat’s liver. From here onwards the larvae can take two routes depending upon the condition of the host cat.
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