Toxocariasis

Pathogen: Toxocara - worldwide distributed helminth 

Transmission: 

 • Dogs and cats are the major source of contamination.

 • Humans acquire the infection as accidental hosts.

 • Eggs are shed in the stool of the definitive host.

 • Following ingestion of infective eggs, the eggs hatch and larvae penetrate the gut wall

 • The larvae migrate through the lungs, and enter the esophagus.  Adult worms develop in the small intestine.

Presentation:

 • Toxocariasis - Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM)

 • Ocular larva migrans

Diagnosis: 

 • History + clinical examination + leukocytosis and eosinophilia

 • ELISA antibody assays detect human IgG antibodies 

 • Stool examinations are not helpful

Treatment:

 • Moderate: Albendazole

 • Severe: add Prednisone



By @TheIDtrivia



#Toxocariasis #Toxocara #diagnosis #management #infectiousdiseases #treatment #microbiology