Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2010 Mar;13(1):70-74. 10.5223/kjpgn.2010.13.1.70.

Familial Case of Visceral Larval Migrans of Toxocara Canis after Ingestion of Raw Chicken Liver

• Park MS
• Ahn YJ
• Moon KR

• KMID: 1459447
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/kjpgn.2010.13.1.70

Abstract

We report a familial case of visceral larva migrans of Toxocara canis after eating raw chicken liver. A 9-year-old female ate raw chicken liver with her father and older brother and was admitted to the hospital with periumbilical pain, a mild fever, and headache. The total peripheral eosinophil count was 9,884/mm3 and the total lgE concentration was 2,317 IU/dL. Chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated multiple, poorly-defined, small, nodular lesions scattered in the liver and lung parenchyma. Toxocara ELISA and Western blot tests were positive in the patient, and her father and brother. A liver biopsy revealed extensive eosinophilic infiltrations in the portal and lobular areas. She took albendazole for 5 days and was discharged in good condition. These results suggest that clinicians should consider foodborne toxocariasis in patients with multiple, small nodules in the liver and lung parenchyma with eosinophilia and a history of raw meat ingestion.

Keyword

Visceral larva migrans; Toxocara canis; Raw liver

MeSH Terms

Albendazole
Biopsy
Blotting, Western
Chickens
Child
Eating
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Fathers
Female
Fever
Headache
Humans
Larva Migrans, Visceral
Liver
Lung
Meat
Siblings
Thorax
Toxocara
Toxocara canis
Toxocariasis
Albendazole

Figure

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  Fig. 1 IgG immunoblot to Toxocara canis TES-Ag. Patients 1 and 2, and positive control revealed the same banding pattern.

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  Fig. 2 Chest and abdominal CT images of patient 1. (A) Chest CT scan shows multiple, small nodules with poorly-defined margins and a ground-glass opacity. (B) Abdominal CT scan shows multiple, low-attenuated small nodules.

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  Fig. 3 Liver biopsy finding of patient 1 shows extensive eosinophilic infiltration in the portal and lobular areas (H&E, ×200).

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