Zoonotic Relevance of Toxocara spp. in North Macedonia: Retrospective Veterinary Findings and a Clinically Confirmed Case of Human Ocular Toxocariasis.

BACKGROUND

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are zoonotic nematodes of dogs and cats that maintain a human infection risk through environmental contamination with highly resistant eggs. Data on toxocariasis in North Macedonia are limited, and ocular toxocariasis (OT) remains a clinically important but easily overlooked manifestation of human infection.

METHODS

This retrospective assessment combined coprological data from dogs and cats with a complementary clinical description of a human case of OT. Routine fecal samples from dogs and cats from January 2018 to March 2026 were morphologically examined. The human case of OT was a 13-year-old boy with unilateral ocular disease.

RESULTS

Of 465 samples, Toxocara spp. eggs were detected in 14, corresponding to an overall detection of 3.0%. Detection was 3.0% in dogs (11/371) and 3.2% in cats (3/94), with no significant difference between species. The human clinical component involved unilateral visual loss, strabismus, and posterior segment inflammatory changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Dogs and cats in North Macedonia showed sporadic Toxocara spp. egg shedding, supporting ongoing zoonotic exposure potential. The clinically confirmed OT case complements the animal data and underscores the need for improved awareness among clinicians and veterinarians, as well as strengthened preventive measures aimed at reducing environmental contamination and zoonotic exposure.