[Experimental toxocariasis in rabbits: immunological markers of ocular infections]

Rabbits were infected with an oral dose of 50 000 eggs of Toxocara canis or with an intracarotid injection of the second stage larvae of the parasite in order to develop ocular toxocariasis. Serum and ocular fluid samples were collected from the rabbits after 1, 3 and 6 months after infection and examined for specific toxocaral antibodies and circulating parasite antigen. Furthermore, an ophthalmoscopic examination was performed at the time of sampling. None of the infected animals showed the signs of ocular involvement, however, toxocaral IgG antibodies and circulating parasite antigen were present in the anterior chamber fluid samples.