The presence of toxocara canis (dog roundworm) larvae — often carried by cats and dogs — in the human brain might trigger Alzheimer’s disease, according to a Taipei Medical University professor.
Toxocariasis — a disease triggered by the transmission of parasitic roundworms commonly found in the intestines of dogs and cats from animals to humans — causes blindness in about 70 people per year in the US, Department of Parasitology chairman Fan Chia-kwung (范家?) said.
Experiments carried out on lab mice showed that three days after infection with toxocara canis, neurodegenerative-related proteins showed significant growth in the rodents’ brains, with one of these proteins being linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, Fan said.
In addition, mice infected with toxocara canis also showed ubiquitin–proteasome system dysfunction in their nervous systems, he said.
The result of Fan’s experiments were published in the academic journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews in July.
“The larvae of toxocara canis act as living bullets, and once they reach the brain they might trigger Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.
The majority of brain infections occur via oral or nasal transmission of the larvae, but the parasites can also move from the intestines to other parts of the body, he said
Fan said there are many possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease, and the causal relationship between toxocariasis infection of the human brain and Alzheimer’s disease is only a reasonable assumption that needs to be confirmed by further research.
However, between 1985 and last year, 25 people across the world were found to have brain damage — including eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, epilepsy, amnesia and cognitive disorder — caused by toxocara canis larvae, he said.
“People should ensure that their pet cats or dogs are free of parasites and washed regularly,” he said, adding that washing hands after playing with cats and dogs or playing in the park or grassy areas and avoiding eating undercooked meat and intestines are also important ways to prevent infection.
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