Here’s Where Your Dog Is Most Likely to Catch Roundworms at the Park

Doggy park lovers, beware: Researchers in Ireland say they’ve pinpointed the park hot spots where roundworms are most likely to infect our precious pups. Scientists at Trinity College in Ireland led the research, published late last month in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. They tested soil samples from parks across Dublin and found that entrances were the most heavily contaminated part of the park, teeming with dog roundworm (Toxocara canis) eggs. The findings could help prevent these irritating, sometimes dangerous, infections that can affect dogs, cats, and humans, the researchers say. T. canis is one of the most common dog parasites around, with roughly 11% of the world’s canines thought to be carrying these infections. Dogs are its definitive host, meaning that they’re needed for the worms to successfully reach adulthood, mate, and lay the next generation of eggs that are pooped out into the environment. The worms’ eggs will often be ingested by other dogs, quickly restarting ... Read full article.