Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ are a species of ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐ (roundworm) that like to live in eyes, as you might have guessed. They are found worldwide, which is a horrifying thought for you to enjoy 
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get these, including humans!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Most eyeworms are from the genus ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ณ๐ข๐, with each animal group having a slightly different species that affects them. These worms can get up to 20mm long, and tend to live in the ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ (tear duct) of animals. The worms secrete larvae that are taken up by flies, where they continue development. These flies then deposit the worm onto the eye of the next animal they visit, spreading the infection.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
These worms, besides being disgusting, can cause ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ, or inflammation of the tissues around the eye. This can be quite painful and lead to swelling of the eyelids, which makes it hard for the animal to see! In some cases, the worms can also damage the ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ (surface of the eye), which is also immensely painful. Untreated cases with corneal damage can eventually lead to blindness.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
These worms are typically diagnosed on an ocular exam, because they can be seen without any special equipment.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
The best method of treatment is simply removing the worms. However, if that is difficult to do, our usual antiparasitic medications can also help treat the infection.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Eyes with little wormy friends!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-2 ยฉ Wikimedia Commons contributors Dutto and Otranto, Lebon et al licensed under CC 4.0 International.
Photos 3-4 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors King, Holshuh licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
