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.

Liver abscesses caused by visceral larva migrans: Aimless wanderer separated from the host.

Visceral larva migrans (VLM) is a systemic zoonotic parasitic disease caused by migration of the second stage larva through viscera of humans. Despite being a foremost public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as India, larva migrans remains an untended zoonosis. Here, we report two cases of VLM who presented with fever and abdominal pain for a prolonged duration. On further investigation, marked peripheral eosinophilia with multiple confluent necrotizing eosinophilic granulomas were identified on histopathological examination of the liver.

Eosinophilic Granuloma of the Liver Mimicking Metastatic Liver Tumor.

We herein report a case of coagulation necrosis with granulation and eosinophilic infiltration of the liver. A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed with a new mass lesion in the liver 1 month after breast cancer surgery and admitted for a further examination. Because the tumor occurred immediately after surgery, it was considered essential to determine whether or not it was a metastatic liver tumor from breast cancer. A percutaneous liver tumor biopsy revealed eosinophilic granuloma of the liver, which is considered to have a high possibility of visceral larva migrans with suspected gnathostomiasis infection. A detailed medical history and histological diagnosis are important for making a differential diagnosis.

Toxocariasis en niños: análisis de 85 casos en un hospital pediátrico de Argentina / Toxocariasis in children: analysis of 85 cases in a paediatric hospital in Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: La toxocariasis es una enfermedad parasitaria ampliamente distribuida. Las formas clínicas descritas son la asintomática (TA), larva migrans visceral (LMV), larva migrans ocular (LMO) y encubierta (TE). OBJETIVOS: Describir las características clínicas, de laboratorio, evolución y tratamiento de los casos y comparar las diversas formas clínicas de presentación. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Análisis retrospectivo de todos los pacientes pediátricos con diagnóstico de toxocariasis atendidos en el Servicio de Infectología del Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde entre 2012 y 2019. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 85 pacientes. El 63,5 % fueron varones y la mediana de edad fue de 60 meses. Cuarenta y nueve pacientes presentaron TA, 14 LMV, 15 LMO y 7 TE. Los pacientes con LMV presentaron menor edad y recuento de eosinófilos más altos. Todos los casos de LMO presentaron mal pronóstico visual. Se indicó tratamiento con albendazol en todos los casos de LMV, en los casos activos de LMO, en 4 TE y en 3 TA. CONCLUSIÓN: Este estudio representa uno de los más grandes llevados a cabo en el país. Todas las formas clínicas excepto las LMO tuvieron buena evolución. Resulta fundamental enfatizar en la prevención y en el diagnóstico precoz de la enfermedad para instaurar de manera oportuna el tratamiento y evitar secuelas.

BACKGROUND: Toxocariasis is a widely spread parasitic disease. The most frequent clinical form is asymptomatic (AT) although it may present with visceral larva migrans (VLM), ocular larva migrans (OLM) or covert (TE) involvement. Aims: To describe the clinical presentation, laboratory, evolution and treatment characteristics of the cases and to compare the various clinical forms of presentation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all children diagnosed with toxocariasis attended at the Infectology Service of the Pedro de Elizalde Children's General Hospital between 2012-2019. RESULTS: We included 85 patients. 63.5% were males and the median age was 60 months. 49 patients presented AT, 14 VLM, 15 OLM and 7 TE. Children with LMV had lower age and higher eosinophil count. All the cases of OLM evolved with a poor visual prognosis. Treatment with albendazole was indicated in all cases of LMV, in active cases of LMO, in 4 TE and in 3 AT. CONCLUSION: This study represents one of the largest conducted in our country. The ocular forms had bad prognosis, while the visceral and covert forms had good evolution. It is essential to emphasize the prevention and early diagnosis of the disease in order to establish timely treatment and avoid sequelae.

Imaging of toxocariasis.

Several imaging modalities have now been employed to visualize the manifestations of larval Toxocara infection in hepatic, neurologic, ocular, renal, and other anatomical sites. This report reviews the usefulness and value of these individual imaging methods in diagnosis and follow-up of the different cases causing eosinophilic (granulomatous) infiltrations the liver, lungs, brain, heart, and eyes. Imaging provides a means of assisting in diagnosis and management in this infection where diagnosis by biopsy is often unlikely to capture an actual larva for the purpose of making a definitive diagnosis on the basis of larval morphology or DNA detection.

[A case of hepatic toxocariasis in a patient with hepatitis B].

A 49-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B receiving treatment with entecavir visited a hospital with a complaint of abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) showed 2 liver tumors, each measuring 1cm in diameter, 1 in segment 7 and 1 in segment 4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a hypervascular tumor in segment 7 that appeared in a site different from that seen on CT. The liver tumor in segment 4 was not detected by MRI. Two months later, MRI showed a new liver tumor in segment 7/6 and that the liver tumor in segment 7 had increased to 2cm in diameter;blood tests showed eosinophilia. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed a high serum Toxocara antibody. The patient was diagnosed as having hepatic toxocariasis and was treated with albendazole for 8 weeks. After treatment, MRI showed that the liver tumors disappeared. Eosinophilia, multiple lesions, and the disappearance of the tumors were characteristic findings of visceral larva migrans.

Immune response to chronic Toxocara canis infection in a mice model.

AIMS: The zoonotic nematode Toxocara canis causes larva migrans syndrome that induces an immune response characterized by the production of antibodies and eosinophilia. A Th2 polarization has been associated with the infection, but there are still details of the cellular and humoral immune response that need to be described. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the systemic host immune response to T canis chronic infection in a mouse model. METHODS AND RESULTS: BALB/c mice were inoculated once with 500 T canis embryonated eggs, per os. After 49 days, the amounts of larval found in brain and muscle tissues were statistically two and four times higher, respectively, than the amounts found in lung, liver, kidney or heart tissues. Splenic proportions of F4/80+ cells, as well as B, cytotoxic T and CD4+ Foxp3+ lymphocytes, were statistically higher (P ≤ .05, P ≤ .01, P ≤ .001 and P ≤ .001, respectively) as compared with control mice. In lymph nodes, some of these proportions changed, with the exception of F4/80+ cells. IgG1 levels in infected mice sera were increased. IL-4, IL-10 and VEGF levels were statistically higher in spleen (P ≤ .05, all) and sera (P ≤ .01, P ≤ .05 and P ≤ .05, respectively) in the infected mice. Also, in infected animals, IL-5 serum levels were increased (P ≤ .01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that T canis chronic infection in BALB/c mice results in a type 2 response with an incipient regulatory response.

Síndrome de larva migrans visceral y absceso hepático: Reporte de un caso / Visceral larva migrans syndrome and hepatic abscess: A case report

La infección por T oxocara canis o catis es una zoonosis diseminada en el ser humano. La toxocariasis puede coexistir con otras parasitosis endémicas. El hombre actúa como huésped no natural y adquiere la infección a través de la ingesta de huevos del geohelminto. Estos pueden localizarse en la tierra, los patios y los juegos de los niños, y son eliminados, principalmente, por perros o gatos. Existen distintos espectros en la presentación clínica; algunos de ellos son toxocariasis ocular, larva migrans visceral, toxocariasis encubierta y neurotoxocariasis. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 2 años y 3 meses de edad, con antecedente de síntomas respiratorios, fiebre prolongada y hepatomegalia, con resultados de laboratorio que informa hipereosinofilia, hipergammaglobulinemia y serología positiva para toxocariasis (ensayo por inmunoabsorción ligado a enzimas). Se plantea el diagnóstico de síndrome de larva migrans visceral.

Toxocariasis canis or catis is a zoonotic infection disseminated in humans. Human beings can act as non-natural hosts in which the parasite can survive for long periods of time and they become infected by the ingestion of geohelminth eggs. These can be located on the ground, playgrounds and children's games, and are mostly eliminated by dogs or cats. There are different spectra in the clinical presentation of this infection, which can vary from an asymptomatic host to the production of serious organic lesions; some of them are ocular toxocariasis, visceral larva migrans, covert toxocariasis and neurotoxocariasis. In this case report a patient who presents with a history of respiratory problems, prolonged fever, and hepatomegaly. Laboratory analyses show hypereosinophilia, hypergammaglobulinemia and serodiagnosis is positive for toxocariasis. Preliminary diagnosis: Visceral Larva Migrans Syndrome.

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).

Diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis by detecting antibodies in the vitreous humor. / Diagnóstico de toxocariasis ocular mediante la demostración de anticuerpos en el humor vítreo.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the production of the local toxocara antibodies in the vitreous of patients with negative serology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of the medical records of patients seen in a Tertiary Referral Hospital, and at an Eye Institute, with an ocular diagnosis of toxocariasis who had a negative serology and positive titres in the vitreous. RESULTS: After reviewing the medical records of 40 patients with a diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis, a total of six cases (15%) were found with a negative serology and a positive vitreous titre for toxocara antibody, both of them performed using an ELISA procedure. The mean age was 18 years, there were no differences observed between males and females. A peripheral granuloma was the most common clinic finding, and all patients underwent vitrectomy either to remove epiretinal membranes or to repair retinal detachments. CONCLUSION: A negative serology does not rule out a diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis. Vitreous samples may be necessary to confirm a clinical diagnosis.

Toxocarosis y colecistitis aguda alitiásica: ¿consecuencia o coincidencia? / Toxocarosis and acalculous acute cholecystitis: consequence or coincidence?

La toxocarosis humana es una parasitosis larvaria crónica catalogada dentro de las cinco enfermedades subestimadas más importantes por los CDC. Las larvas pueden diseminarse por vía sistémica y migrar a distintos tejidos (larva migrans visceral) incluyendo el hígado y vesícula biliar. La colecistitis aguda acalculosa (CAA) es una enfermedad rara en niños. El diagnóstico se basa en parámetros clínicos y criterios imagenológicos. Se ha asociado a sepsis, shock, trauma, quemaduras, enfermedades sistémicas graves, anomalías congénitas e infecciones, como también en niños sanos. Presentamos el caso de una toxocarosis infantil con síntomas clínicos y criterios imagenológicos compatibles con una CAA tratado médicamente, y discutir la relación entre ambos cuadros en base a la evidencia publicada.

Human toxocarosis is a chronic larval parasitosis listed as one of the five most important neglected diseases by the CDC. The larvae can spread systemically and migrate to different tissues including liver and gallbladder. Acalculous acute cholecystitis (AAC) is a rare disease in children. The diagnosis is based on clinical parameters and imaging criteria. It has been reported in relation to sepsis, shock, trauma, burns, severe systemic diseases, congenital anomalies, infections and also in healthy children. We report a pediatric case of toxocarosis, with clinical symptoms and imaging criteria compatible with AAC treated medically, and discuss the relationship between toxocarosis and AAC based on published evidence.

Solitary Hepatic Eosinophilic Granuloma Accompanied by Eosinophilia Without Parasitosis: Report of a Case.

A 43-year-old Japanese woman visited for a hepatic tumor incidentally found. We suspected eosinophilic granuloma of the liver (EGL) due to visceral larva migrans (VLM). However, neither past history nor medical interview indicated a risk of parasitosis. Blood testing revealed eosinophilia, serum examination showed normal results for immunoglobulin E, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay yielded negative for Toxocara and Anisakis. Gastric and colonic endoscopy revealed normal features. Several imagings showed central necrosis of the tumor. After informed consent, laparoscopic resection was performed. Histopathological examination showed EGL without parasites. No recurrence had occurred postoperatively. Most reports documented that EGL are caused by VLM. However, parasites are not always demonstrable on serum, histopathological, or immunochemical examinations. When acting as allergens to induce type I responses, microscopic agents other than parasites in the intestinal tract could induce eosinophilic inflammation in the liver. Accumulation of more cases should help clarify other pathogeneses for EGL.

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.

Chronic Migraineurs Form Carboxyhemefibrinogen and Iron-Bound Fibrinogen.

Chronic migraine (CM) is a disabling painful condition that is associated with dementia and thrombotic disease. It has been proposed that carbon monoxide (CO) and iron may play a role in CM, and CO and iron are products of the heme oxygenase system which is widespread within the brain. Further, CO and iron enhance plasmatic coagulation in part via a fibrinogen-dependent mechanism. Thus, our goal was to determine whether patients with CM had experienced carboxyhemefibrinogen formation, iron bound fibrinogen formation and plasmatic hypercoagulability. Nonsmokers with CM were recruited after informed, written consent. Blood was collected, anticoagulated with sodium citrate, and then centrifuged with plasma stored at -80ºC. Carboxyhemefibrinogen formation, iron bound fibrinogen formation and coagulation kinetics were determined via thrombelastographic methods. Patient results were compared with laboratory values generated from normal control plasmas. Incidence (95% confidence intervals) of the various parameters was determined using the Clopper-Pearson method. Twenty-six CM patients (24 female) were recruited; they were 46±12 years old. With regard to fibrinogen modification, 88.5% (69.8%-97.6%) of CM patients had formation of carboxyhemefibrinogen, iron bound fibrinogen, or both. With regard to coagulation, 42.3% (23.4%-63.1%) of patients had abnormally decreased time to clot initiation, 80.8% (60.6%-93.4%) had abnormally large velocity of clot formation, and 46.2% (26.6%-66.7%) had abnormally strong clot strength. Patients with CM have a large incidence of carboxyhemefibrinogen and iron bound fibrinogen formation and hypercoagulability. Confirmatory and potential therapeutic clinical trials targeting CO and iron modified hypercoagulation as a source of pain and vascular disease in CM patients are indicated.