Histopathological investigation of experimental ocular toxocariasis in gerbils

Male gerbils were inoculated intragastrically with embryonated Toxocara canis eggs. They were euthanised, and their eyes were excised at different days p.i. to identify the number of larvae as well as lesions resulting in these organs. In most animals, larvae were detected from day 5 to day 60 p.i. (end of the study). From days 10 to 20 p.i., larvae and haemorrhage were observed in the choroid and in the ciliary process. At days 30 and 40 p.i., some eyes had larvae surrounded by an infiltrate of neutrophils, oedema, haemorrhages and tissue damage in the retina or the ciliary process. On day 60 p.i., there were granulomatous lesions in the retina. This study provides a model for the study of ocular toxocariasis. (C) 2000 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.