本病主要是由狗弓蛔虫、亦称犬弓首线虫的幼虫寄生于人体内所引起的寄生虫病，少数是由猫弓蛔虫引起。狗、猫是该虫的天然宿主，是其肠内最常见的寄生虫病。
霍特兹举了个有关弓蛔虫病的例子，这种病通过狗的粪便传播。
Hotez gave the example of a disease called toxocariasis, a parasitic worm infection spread through dog feces.
他告诉记者，弓蛔虫病会引发哮喘及发育迟缓，美国大约有超过百万名患者，其中绝大多数为非裔美国人。
He said the infection leads to asthma or developmental delays. And he estimates that it affects more than a million people in the U.S., the majority being African Americans.
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