toxocariasis

Introduction

Infection with nematodes of the genus Toxocara.

Etiology

• Toxocara canis
• Toxocara catis

Epidemiology

• acquired through ingestion of contaminated soil or infected meat
• one of top 5 neglected parasitic infections in the U.S.
  • ~ 14% of people in the U.S. have been exposed

Pathology

• visceral larva migrans (Toxocara canis)
  • larvae hatch in the human intestine & migrate through the bloodstream to multiple organs, including the liver, spleen, lungs, & eye
• ocular involvement
  • solitary granuloma in the retina
  • inflammatory masses in the periphery of the eye
  • chronic endophthalmitis

Clinical manifestations

• Loffler's syndrome
  • cough, wheezing, pneumonia
• fever
• hepatomegaly
  • urticaria, pruritus
• manifestations of hypereosinophilic syndrome

Laboratory

• complete blood count
  • eosinophilia
  • anemia
• Toxocara serology

Complications

• Loffler's endocarditis with thromboembolism, embolic stroke

Management

• albendazole
• ivermectin

More general terms

• helminth infection

Additional terms

• Toxocara