Researchers at the University of Melbourne recently announced that they had sequenced the genome of Toxocara canis, which may not seem like significant news — scientists seem to be sequencing a lot of genomes these days — but this particular feat merits a special hip, hip, hurray!

T. canis is a roundworm that causes disease in animals, including humans. Most at risk (brace yourself): young children and puppies.

The parasitic worm, which can grow to roughly 6 inches, resides in the guts of dogs and other mammals. Untreated, the worm's numbers can eventually pack the entire small intestine. Adult dogs can become very sick; for puppies, it can be fatal.

Young children are at risk because the parasite's eggs are excreted in feces, where they may either be inadvertently consumed or contaminate ingested foods. Interestingly, studies have shown that owning a pet does not seem to significantly increase the risk of T. canis infections, which suggests most of the risk comes from eggs already present in the environment.

T. canis eggs are not immediately infective after being passed by an animal, and they take a few weeks to develop. The eggs may linger in situ well after animal waste has been washed away naturally, which means an area that appears clear may actually remain contaminated.

Here are some tips to reduce risk:

—Wash hands thoroughly after gardening or playing outside.

—Discourage young children from putting soil or dirty hands in their mouths.

—Cook meat thoroughly. (The larval form of the parasite can infect tissues.)

—Deworm cats and dogs regularly to reduce potential infections.

—Pick up animal stool quickly, within 24 hours, before the eggs become infective.

The sequencing of T. canis offers no immediate remedies, but the new knowledge could lead to new treatments and vaccines, said researchers. "This pathogen causes widespread outbreaks, predominantly in underprivileged communities and developing countries, so the more we know about these parasites the better equipped we are to combat their deadly effects," said study author Robin Gasser.

Body of Knowledge

The average American goes to the toilet (for one reason or another) six times a day.

Get Me That, Stat!

Although secondhand smoke exposure in the United States has dramatically dropped in recent years, 1 in 4 nonsmokers — 58 million people — are still exposed to it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Number Cruncher

A chicken soft taco from Taco Bell (92 grams) contains 160 calories, 45 from fat. It has 5 grams of total fat, or 8 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet, according to the Calorie Count database.

It also contains 25 milligrams of cholesterol (8 percent), 480 milligrams of sodium (20 percent), 16 grams of total carbohydrates (5 percent), 2 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of sugar and 12 grams of protein.

Doc Talk

Hemopneumothorax: blood and air in the pleura, a pair of membranes lining the thorax and enveloping lungs — more commonly referred to as a collapsed lung.

Phobia of the Week

Homichlophobia: fear of fog.

Never Say Diet

The speed-eating record for lutefisk is 9.5 pounds in six minutes, held by Eric Dahl. Note: There's no official record of whether Dahl actually knew what lutefisk is, which is probably a good thing. Apologies to the seven people in Norway who actually like lutefisk.

Observation

"Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors." — American author Norman Cousins (1915-90)

Medical History

This week in 1991, the appallingly named "Rotablator" was debuted at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The Rotablator is a heart-cleaning tool that uses a diamond-tipped head rotating at 200,000 rpm to pulverize arterial obstructions. The resulting debris, smaller than blood cells, harmlessly exits via the bloodstream.

Last Words

"Is it not meningitis?" — American author Louisa May Alcott (1832-88)

The answer is, "Probably not." The writer of "Little Women" suffered chronic health problems much of her life. There is speculation about her ultimately fatal disease, including that it was mercury poisoning or lupus. She died, however, of a stroke.

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.