Spirurid nematodes in the genus Thelazia are primarily veterinary parasites, but may occasionally infect humans. The majority of zoonotic infections involve T. callipaeda (the Oriental eye worm).

Thelazia callipaeda eye worm is a nematode transmitted by drosophilid flies not only primarily to carnivores and lagomorphs but also to humans. Only a few cases have been reported in Europe (Italy, France, and Portugal).

Eyeworms (Thelazia californiensis and T. callipaeda) are parasites found in dogs, cats, and other animals, including humans, in the western United States, Europe, and Asia. They are whitish, 0.5 to 0.75 inches (7 to 19 millimeters) long, and move in a rapid snake-like motion across the eye.

Thelaziasis is the term for infestation with parasitic nematodes of the genus Thelazia. The adults of all Thelazia species discovered so far inhabit the eyes and associated tissues (such as eyelids, tear ducts, etc.) of various mammal and bird hosts, including humans. [2] Thelazia nematodes are often referred to as "eyeworms".

Eyeworms (Thelazia spp) are common parasites of horses and cattle worldwide. Horses are infected primarily by T lacrymalis, whereas cattle are infected mainly by T gulosa, T skrjabini, and T rhodesii, particularly in Africa, and Asia and Europe.

Jan 31, 2024 · We report 2 autochthonous feline thelaziosis cases caused by the eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda and discuss the spread among dogs in the northeastern United States.

Thelazia callipaeda is a parasitic nematode, and the most common cause of thelaziasis (or eyeworm infestation) in humans, dogs and cats. [1] It was first discovered in the eyes of a dog in China in 1910. [2] By 2000, over 250 human cases had been reported in the medical literature. [3]

Clinical signs of thelaziasis include excessive lacrimation and epiphora, ocular pruritus, conjunctivitis, keratitis with corneal opacity and ulceration, hyperemia, and rarely, blindness. After local anesthetic, diagnosis and treatment are readily accomplished by observing and removing the parasites with forceps.

Thelaziasis is a zoonotic disease which affects the eye of domestic and wild carnivores caused by the nematode Thelazia. It is transmitted to humans by secretophagous arthropod-borne zoophilic nonbiting flies of the family Drosophilidae.

Vector-borne Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) as a zoonotic nematode is of concern to public health because it can infect a wide range of host species, including dogs, wolves, and other mammals as well as humans [1].