Atypical Toxocara canis-Induced Hepatic Visceral Larva Migrans: Diagnostic Challenges and Literature Review.

Toxocariasis, a zoonotic infection transmitted by Toxocara canis (from dogs) and Toxocara cati (from cats) larvae, poses rare but severe risks to humans. We present a case of hepatic visceral larva migrans (VLM) caused by Toxocara canis in a 21-year-old male with a history of close contact with a pet dog. Initial symptoms and imaging findings mimicked a pyogenic liver abscess. The initial laboratory investigations revealed neutrophilia and elevated levels of IgE. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotics, persistent fever prompted further investigation. Subsequent serological testing for Toxocara antibodies and histopathological analysis of liver tissue demonstrating eosinophil infiltrates and Charcot-Leyden crystals led to a confirmed diagnosis of a liver abscess caused by Toxocara canis. Serological testing for Toxocara antibodies and histopathological analysis of liver tissue confirmed a Toxocara canis-induced liver abscess. Albendazole treatment yielded significant clinical improvement. This case highlights the necessity of considering toxocariasis in liver abscess differentials, particularly in high-seroprevalence regions like Vietnam. Relying solely on serological tests may be insufficient, emphasizing the need for corroborative evidence, including invasive procedures like liver biopsy, for accurate hepatic toxocariasis diagnosis.

Visceral larva Migrans in a Young Italian Patient: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

BACKGROUND: The association of fever, focal hepatic lesions and peripheral hyper-eosinophilia (FHLH) can be observed in both infectious and non-infectious conditions. Fascioliasis, capillariasis, toxocariasis, all causes of visceral larva migrans (VLM), represent most of the former, whilst lymphomas, eosinophilic leukemias and mastocytosis belong in the non-infectious conditions. METHODS: We prospectively followed a young patient presenting with FHLH in the Tuscany region of Italy. RESULTS: The patient was subject to serological and parasitological examination in an attempt to clarify the origin of the lesions. Serologies for both Fasciola hepatica and Toxocara spp. were positive, with the latter presenting a higher index. We opted for treatment with a prolonged course of albendazole due to the serological results and being toxocariasis more frequent in our setting. The patient was then subject to radiological follow-up. The patient responded to treatment with albendazole as shown by a decrease in eosinophils, seronegativization for Toxocara spp., clinical and radiological improvement. Toxocariasis was hence considered the most likely diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Parasitic infections cannot be disregarded in the presence of FHLH. Differential diagnosis between these parasitic infections can be challenging due to the presence of similar clinical presentations and serological cross-reactions, and follow-up of the patient is needed to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.

The visceral larva migrans caused by Toxocara canis: a case report.

Hepatic toxocarosis is caused by the dog´s roundworm, Toxocara canis. Responsible for an eosinophilic inflammatory syndrome causing liver damage that can be detected on ultrasound, computed tomography and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging. We report the case of a nine-year-old child, living in countryside, with a notion of cohabitation with canids. He presented a digestive symptomatology revealed by abdominal pain, with a hemeosinophilia in the hemogram. The etiological assessment of hyper eosinophilia objectified a positive Toxocara canisserology. The imaging assessment in search of digestive visceral lesions, found multiple heterogeneous hypoechogenic areas, poorly defined, scattered in the liver. On the abdominal CT scan, its areas appear of unenhanced density and low density and better visible after injection of contrast product. This observation reveals that imagery, although not very specific, helps in the assessment of liver damage from digestive toxocarosis.

Toxocariasis Suspected of Having Infiltrated Directly from the Liver to the Lung through the Diaphragm.

A 37-year-old woman presented to our hospital with mild abdominal pain experienced for 2 months and hepatic nodules in segments 3 and 8. Peripheral blood eosinophilia was observed, and toxocariasis was serologically diagnosed. Seventeen days after the first imaging evaluation, a new lesion was found in segment 9 of the right lung, which was contiguous through the diaphragm to the hepatic nodule in segment 8. After treatment with albendazole, the liver and lung nodules disappeared. We suspect that larvae had directly invaded the lung from the liver, through the diaphragm.

Space Occupying Lesion in the Liver Caused by Hepatic Visceral Larva Migrans: A Case Report.

Visceral larva migrans (VLM) is one of the clinical syndromes of human toxocariasis. We report a case of hepatic VLM presenting preprandial malaise and epigastric discomfort in a 58-year-old woman drinking raw roe deer blood. The imaging studies of the abdomen showed a 74-mm hepatic mass featuring hepatic VLM. Anti-Toxocara canis immunoglobulin G (IgG) was observed in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot. Despite anthelmintic treatment, the patient complained of newly developed cough and skin rash with severe eosinophilia. Hepatic lesion increased in size. The patient underwent an open left lobectomy of the liver. After the surgery, the patient was free of symptoms such as preprandial malaise, epigastric discomfort, cough, and skin rash. Laboratory test showed a normal eosinophilic count at postoperative 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 4 years. The initial optical density value of 2.55 of anti-T. canis IgG in ELISA was found to be negative (0.684) at postoperative 21 months. Our case report highlights that a high degree of clinical suspicion for hepatic VLM should be considered in a patient with a history of ingestion of raw food in the past, presenting severe eosinophilia and a variety of symptoms which reflect high worm burdens. Symptom remission, eosinophilia remission, and complete radiological resolution of lesions can be complete with surgery.

Larva migrans visceral. Presentación de un caso / Visceral larva migrans. Report of a case

RESUMEN La larva migrans visceral es una enfermedad que se produce al ingerir huevos infectantes de nematodos parásitos de gatos y perros (Toxocaracanis y Toxocaracati); los cuales eclosionan en el intestino del hombre y las larvas se distribuyen en todo el organismo, principalmente hígado, pulmón, corazón y cerebro. Las larvas en su migración dejan trazos de hemorragias, necrosis y células inflamatorias; algunas son destruidas por la respuesta inmune del huésped y otras forman granulomas eosinofílicos. Los síntomas dependen del tejido u órgano afectado, de la intensidad de la infección y del grado de la respuesta inmunológica inducida. Se presenta un caso del sexo masculino de 72 años que ingresa en el Servicio de Medicina del Hospital Militar Docente “Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy”, de Matanzas, por cuadro de fiebre, diarreas, tos seca, astenia, anorexia y pérdida de peso al que se le diagnosticó larva migrans visceral. Por lo atípico de la edad del paciente y la complejidad del diagnóstico decidimos presentar este caso (AU).

ABSTRACT Visceral larva migrans is a disease produced after the ingestion of infectant eggs of cat´s and dog´s nematode parasites (Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati). These parasites harch in the men´s intestines and the larvas are distributed around the organism, mainly in the following organs: liver, lungs, hearth and brain. In their migration, the larvas leave traces of hemorrhage, necrosis and inflammatory cells; several of them are destroyed by the host´s immune answer and others form eosinophilic granulomas. The symptoms depend on the affected tissue or organ, on the infection intensity and on the level of induced immunologic answer. The case of a male patient, aged 72 years-old is presented. He entered the Medicine Service of the Teaching Military Hospital “Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy”, of Matanzas with fever, diarrhea, dry cought, asthenia, anorexia and weight loss.Visceral larva migrans was diagnosed. The presentation of the case was decided because of the atypical patient´s age and the complexity of the diagnosis (AU).

Successful early diagnosis and treatment in a case of Toxocara canis-induced eosinophilic myocarditis with eosinophil-rich pericardial effusion.

Fulminant myocarditis can become fatal if left untreated. Treatments for most types of myocarditis, including mechanical support, are limited. However, immediate systemic corticosteroids are known to be effective against eosinophilic myocarditis; therefore, prompt diagnosis of this disease is crucial. Unfortunately, the standard diagnostic tool for myocarditis, endomyocardial biopsy, does not provide immediate histopathological findings. Thus, a rapid diagnostic tool for identifying types of myocarditis is urgently required. We report here the first case of Toxocara canis-induced eosinophilic fulminant myocarditis which was diagnosed based on eosinophil-rich pericardial effusion where the patient recovered with early corticosteroid therapy.

Enhanced resolution of eosinophilic liver abscess associated with toxocariasis by albendazole treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Visceral larva migrans, caused by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, has emerged as a significant cause of eosinophilic liver abscess (ELA). Differentiation of ELA associated with toxocariasis (ELA-T) from metastasis or primary liver malignancy is sometimes difficult. However, the role of albendazole treatment remains uncertain in this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether albendazole can enhance the radiologic resolution of ELA-T. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients diagnosed with ELA-T at our institution between January 2008 and December 2011. ELA-T was diagnosed based on the imaging findings on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging and the presence of positive serum IgG antibody for Toxocara canis. Among a total of 163 patients, 32 patients received albendazole (albendazole group) and 131 did not (control group). Baseline characteristics and fate of liver nodules were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics (age, sex, number and maximal size of lesions, eosinophil count) were similar between the two groups. Median duration for achieving radiologic resolution in the albendazole group was significantly shorter than in the control group (207 days [range 186-228] vs. 302 days [range 224-380], p=0.023). In Cox regression analysis of the cumulative rates of radiologic resolution, the hazard ratio for albendazole treatment was 1.99 (95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.23). CONCLUSIONS: Radiologic resolution of ELA-T can be accelerated with albendazole treatment. Hence, inconvenience associated with long-term follow-up and unnecessary worries among patients can be eliminated with albendazole treatment.

[Technological direction in the diagnosis and therapy of parasittic diseases: state-of-the-art and promises].

The paper presents information on the technological methods aimed at improving the diagnosis and prevention of parasitic diseases.

Visceral larva migrans presenting as multiple liver abscesses.

Eosinophilic necrotizing granulomas in the liver, known as visceral larva migrans (VLM), are a rare cause of liver abscesses. The term VLM refers to infections in human tissues caused by the larval stages of ascarid worms of dogs and cats. We report two cases of VLM which presented with high grade fever and abdominal pain for 3-4 months. Marked peripheral eosinophilia, multiple confluent perivenous lesions in the right lobe of liver with characteristic migratory tracts on imaging and biopsy evidence of necrotizing eosinophilic granulomas led to the diagnosis. Complete recovery was achieved with repeated courses of a combination of anthelmintics.

Visceral larva migrans presenting with hypereosinophilia.

Toxocariasis is an infection caused by the ingestion of larvae of the dog Toxocara canis or the cat Toxocara cati. A 2.5 year old boy was admitted to our clinics with fever, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. His medical history included geophagia (pica) and amebiasis infection. On admission, the physical examination revealed hepatomegaly and pallor. There was marked eosinophilia with leukocytosis, anemia, hypergammaglobulinemia and elevated serum Ig E titers. Toxocariasis was confirmed by anti-Toxocara IgG and Western blot. After 7 days of albendazole therapy, leukocytosis persisted and a second course of albendazole combined with prednisolone was administered. After 3 weeks, the eosinophil count had decreased and the patient showed resolution of hepatomegaly, but Toxocara serology remained elevated.

Toxocariasis masquerading as liver and lung metastatic nodules in patents with gastrointestinal cancer: clinicopathologic study of five cases.

BACKGROUND: There are sporadic reports in the literature in which radiologic liver and lung lesions found incidentally during follow-up metastatic surveillance were shown to be caused by toxocariasis. AIMS: The objective of the work discussed in this report was to identify common clinical and histopathological features of toxocariasis resembling metastatic nodules in five patients with gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical features of five gastrointestinal cancer patients with liver or lung nodules mimicking metastasis. Serologic tests for parasitic infestations and pathologic examinations were performed. RESULTS: All five patients were males and three patients had gastric cancer and two had colorectal cancer. All the cases of toxocariasis were confirmed serologically. On follow-up imaging, the lesions improved or resolved, suggestive of the phenomenon of visceral larva migrans. In two patients, liver biopsy was performed and showed eosinophilic abscess. CONCLUSION: Serologic tests and liver or lung biopsy should be performed aggressively to exclude toxocariasis when patients with underlying gastrointestinal cancer present with hepatic or pulmonary nodules associated with eosinophilia, particularly if the patients have a clinical history of raw animal liver ingestion. Curative surgical intervention should not be excluded just because of multiple nodules in the liver or the lungs.

[Eosinophilic pneumonia in response to cutaneous larva migrans syndrome--a case report]. / Eozynofilowe zapalenie pluc w przebiegu zespolu larwy skórnej wedrujacej--opis przypadku.

Cutaneous larva migrans is a parasitic dermatosis imported by travelers returning from tropical and subtropical regions. In cutaneous larva migrans syndrome humans are incidental hosts and the larvae are unable to complete their natural cycle. Adult hookworms live in the intestines of dogs and cats, shedding eggs in feces that hatch and mature into larvae that can remain infective for months in the soil. Larvae penetrate the skin after contact with infected soil and cause an itchy creeping eruption. Cutaneous larva migrans is not usually associated with systemic symptoms and is rarely accompanied by peripheral blood eosinophilia. We report a patient who had both cutaneous larva migrans syndrome caused by Ancylostoma brasiliense and eosinophilic pneumonia after returning from Sri Lanka. The patient has been applied intravenous corticosteroids and local treatment with albendazole ointment with a very good clinical response.

Visceral larva migrans in immigrants from latin america.

To determine whether increased migration is associated with an increase in incidence of toxocariasis (visceral larva migrans), we analyzed clinical data obtained from immigrants from Latin America. Although infection with Toxocara sp. roundworm larvae is distributed worldwide, seroprevalence is highest in tropical and subtropical areas.