Toxocariasis is a helminozoonosis caused by the infection of a human host by the larva of Toxocara canis and Toxocara catis, which are common nematodes in dogs and cats, and occurs more frequently in school age children. Toxocariasis shows variable clinical manifestations including hepatomegaly, bronchial asthma, uveitis, central nervous system symptoms with peripheral eosinophilia and an increased total serum IgE level. However a hepatic abscess caused by toxocara infection in adults is rare. We experienced a case of heavy alcoholic patients with a hepatic eosinophilic abscess caused by toxocara infestation, which was confirmed by microscopic examination of liver biopsy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, abdominal CT and the ultrasonography findings.
Adult ; Animals ; Humans ; Liver Abscess/*diagnosis/*parasitology/ultrasonography ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Toxocara canis/*isolation & purification ; Toxocariasis/*diagnosis/parasitology/pathology

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.
Albendazole/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Antigens, Helminth/analysis ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*complications ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lung/pathology ; Lung Diseases, Parasitic/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis/diagnosis/pathology ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Toxocara/*isolation & purification ; Toxocariasis/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Treatment Outcome