Human Toxocariasis Presenting with Fever and Colestatic Hepatitis: An Underestimated but Current Zoonosis
Affiliation(s)
Clinic of Internal Medicine 3, IRCSS San Martino IST, Genoa, Italy. Clinic of Infectious Disease, IRCSS San Martino IST, Genoa, Italy.
Clinic of Internal Medicine 3, IRCSS San Martino IST, Genoa, Italy. Clinic of Infectious Disease, IRCSS San Martino IST, Genoa, Italy.
ABSTRACT
Human toxocariasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by
ingestion of Toxocara canis or catis larvae or eggs. Parasitic diseases
are uncommon in industrialized countries, yet this problem has not disappeared.
Parasitic diseases can cause different syndrome (visceral larva migrans, ocular
larva migrans) and the clinical features can be confusing. Severe organ
involvement affecting the liver, lungs, nervous central system and eyes can
lead to serious damage. We present a case of toxocariasis presenting with
fever, desaturation and cholestatic hepatitis. Only the subsequent appearance
of eosinophilia helped us to arrive at the correct diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis
allowed specific therapy avoiding permanent complications.
Cite this paper
V. Sicbaldi, A. Bellodi, V. Del Bono, E. Arboscello and R. Ghio, "Human Toxocariasis Presenting with Fever and Colestatic Hepatitis: An Underestimated but Current Zoonosis," International Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol. 3 No. 7, 2012, pp. 595-597. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2012.37107.
V. Sicbaldi, A. Bellodi, V. Del Bono, E. Arboscello and R. Ghio, "Human Toxocariasis Presenting with Fever and Colestatic Hepatitis: An Underestimated but Current Zoonosis," International Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol. 3 No. 7, 2012, pp. 595-597. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2012.37107.
References
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[1] N. Leone, et al., “Hepatic Involvement in Larva Migrans of Toxocara canis: Report of a Case with Pathological and Radiological Findings,” Digestive and Liver Disease, Vol. 38, No. 7, 2006, pp. 511-514. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2005.07.007 [2] D. Despommier, “Toxocariasis: Clinical Aspects, Epidemiology, Medical Ecology and Molecular Aspects,” Clinical Microbiology Reviews, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2003, pp. 265-272. [3] J. Chen, et al., “Advances in Molecular Identification, Taxonomy, Genetic Variation and Diagnosis of Toxocara spp.,” Infection, Genetics and Evolution, Vol. 12, No. 7, 2012, pp. 1344-1348. doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2012.04.019 [4] J.-F. Magnaval, et al., “Highlights of Human Toxocariasis,” The Korean Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2001, pp. 1-11. [5] A.-P. Bellanger, et al., “Rheumatoid Purpura Associated with Toxocariasis,” Canadian Family Physician, Vol. 57, No. 12, 2011, pp. 1413-1414. [6] L. Lopez Mde, “Toxocara canis and Bronchial Asthma,” Medicina Buenos Aires, Vol. 70, No. 1, 2010, pp. 75-78. [7] K. Enko, et al., “Fulminant Eosinophilic Myocarditis Associated with Visceral Larva Migrans Caused by Toxocara canis Infection,” Circulation Journal, Vol. 73, No. 7, 2009, pp. 1344-1348. doi:10.1253/circj.CJ-08-0334 [8] A. K. Bartelink, “Acute Respiratory Failure Due to Toxocara Infection,” Lancet, Vol. 343, No. 8881, 1993, p. 1234. [9] B. Hoffmeister et al., “Cerebral Toxocariasis after Consumption of Raw Duck Liver,” The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol. 76, No. 3, 2007, pp. 600- 602. [10] O. Verallo, et al., “Diagnostic Aspects and Retinal Imaging in Ocular Toxocariasis: A Case Report from Italy,” Case Reports in Medicine, Vol. 2012, 2012, Article ID: 984512. [11] M.-V. Bojanich, et al., “An Evaluation of the Dot-Elisa Procedure as a Diagnostic Test in an Area with a High Prevalence of Human Toxocara canis Infection,” Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 107, No. 2, 2012, pp. 194-197. [12] G. Rubinsky-Elefant, “Human Toxocariasis: Diagnosis, Worldwide Seroprevalences and Clinical Expression of the Systemic and Ocular Forms,” Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Vol. 104, No. 1, 2010, pp. 3-23.