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Temperature and the development and survival of infective Toxocara canis larvae

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Abstract

The influence of temperature on the development and survival of Toxocara canis larvae was investigated under laboratory conditions, in water at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C and at room temperature 22°C ± 1°C. T. canis eggs were able to develop to the larvated stage at all the tested temperatures. Development rate increased with temperature. Linear regression of development rate against temperature predicted a lower development threshold of 11.8°C. Eggs survived cooling to 1 and −2°C for 6 weeks, and could develop to the infective, larvated stage when transferred to higher temperatures, but their development rates were then retarded compared with non-chilled eggs. Larvated eggs remained viable after 7 weeks of incubation across the tested temperature range, with the highest percentage viability (47%) obtained at 25°C. Development of eggs to the infective larval stage required, on average, 121 degree days between 20°C and 30°C. Results provide a basis for predicting variation in the infectivity of eggs in the environment over time in different climates.

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Acknowledgements

DA is grateful for the support from Mansoura University and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt through the Channel Scheme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Wooodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UG, UK

    Dena Azam, Onyinye M. Ukpai & Eric Rene Morgan

  2. Department of Zoology, Mansoura University, Damietta Branch, New Damietta, Egypt

    Dena Azam, Ashraf Said & Gamal A. Abd-Allah

  3. School of Biological Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

    Onyinye M. Ukpai

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  1. Dena Azam
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  2. Onyinye M. Ukpai
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  3. Ashraf Said
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  4. Gamal A. Abd-Allah
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  5. Eric Rene Morgan
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Correspondence to Eric Rene Morgan.

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Azam, D., Ukpai, O.M., Said, A. et al. Temperature and the development and survival of infective Toxocara canis larvae. Parasitol Res 110, 649–656 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2536-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2536-8

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