[Larva migrans visceralis--occurrence of Toxocara canis in dogs in the East German district of Cottbus].

Larvae of the nematode genus Toxocara are the main causative agents of the L.m.v. syndrom. 5,002 dogs from the Cottbus district aged between 2 and 36 months were examined. 994 animals (19.9%) were found to be infected with Toxocara canis. Dogs from a rural area have a higher infection rate (25.6%) than dogs from an urban area (15.2%). The relatively high infection rate of dogs, high egg-production and the tenacity of the development stages are factors dangerous to human health.