No abstract available.
Toxocariasis

This study aimed to determine the status of common parasitic disease in Korea in 2019. Twelve parasitic diseases were selected: toxocariasis, anisakiasis, paragonimiasis, sparganosis, cysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, clonorchiasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, trichomoniasis, cryptosporidiosis, and malaria. Their biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptoms and signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were evaluated. Of the parasitic diseases, toxocariasis was the most prevalent according to serological results. Anisakiasis should be considered when acute gastrointestinal symptoms occur with a recent past history of raw seafood ingestion. Paragonimiasis, sparganosis, and cysticercosis can be diagnosed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; thus, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay needs to be performed for suspected cases. Toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis are opportunistic infections. The symptoms and signs are aggravated under immunocompromised conditions. Although the egg positivity rate of Clonorchis sinensis is higher than that of other intestinal parasitic diseases, encountering patients with complaints of symptoms caused by clonorchiasis is rare because the worm burden is low. Trichomoniasis is usually managed by gynecologists; therefore, it should be included in the differential diagnoses of vaginal diseases. The annual number of malaria cases has decreased, although it remains at approximately 500 cases per year. Malaria should be suspected when symptoms such as intermittent fever, headache, and splenomegaly are noted especially when the patients reside near demilitarized zones. Although the prevalence and number of reported cases of parasitic diseases have decreased in Korea, we should consider parasitic diseases in the list of differential diagnoses.
Animals ; Anisakiasis ; Biology ; Clonorchiasis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Cryptosporidiosis ; Cysticercosis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eating ; Enterobiasis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiology ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria ; Opportunistic Infections ; Ovum ; Paragonimiasis ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Seafood ; Sparganosis ; Splenomegaly ; Toxocariasis ; Toxoplasmosis ; Trichuriasis ; Vaginal Diseases

Toxocara canis is an important roundworm of canids and a fearsome animal parasite of humans. Human infections can lead to syndromes called visceral larva migrans (VLM), ocular larva migrans, neurotoxocariasis, and covert toxocariasis. VLM is most commonly diagnosed in children younger than 8 years of age, but adult cases are relatively frequent among those infected by ingesting the raw tissue of paratenic hosts in East Asia. This research reports the case of a 59-year-old man with sigmoid colon cancer, who visited our institution for surgery. An intraperitoneal mass was found on preoperative computed tomography, and it was thought to be a metastatic mass from sigmoid colon cancer. A postoperative histologic examination and serum test showed eosinophilic granuloma due to toxocariasis. Diagnosis of VLM is often difficult and highly suspicious in adults. Researchers suggest, although rarely, that VLM be included in the differential diagnosis as a cause of intraperitoneal tumors.
Adult ; Animals ; Child ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eosinophilic Granuloma ; Far East ; Humans ; Larva Migrans ; Larva Migrans, Visceral ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Parasites ; Research Report ; Sigmoid Neoplasms* ; Toxocara canis* ; Toxocara* ; Toxocariasis

OBJECTIVES: The present study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara in children ≤ 10 years old, from rural and urban areas of Ilam. METHODS: Serum samples from 383 children ≤ 10 years old, were selected randomly from rural and urban areas of Ilam province and surveyed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The total rate of infection with Toxocara was 22% (31% with a history of contact with dogs and cats, and 14% without a history of contact). Of those infected, 23% were male and 18% were female, 36% lived a rural life and 20% had an urban life. A significant correlation was found between the incidence of disease, and urban and rural life, as well as exposure to dogs and cats. There was no correlation between prevalence and gender or age. CONCLUSION: Given the high prevalence of infection with Toxocara amongst children in Ilam province, preventive work in the community such as education in risk management and periodic treatment with anti-parasitic drugs and elimination of stray dogs and cats is an appropriate measure.
Animals ; Cats ; Child* ; Dogs ; Education ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iran* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Management ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Toxocara* ; Toxocariasis ; Zoonoses

Hepatic toxocariasis is a type of visceral larva migrans caused by the migration of second-stage larvae of certain nematodes such as Toxocara canis to the liver. Histologically, the condition is characterized by granulomatous lesions containing eosinophils and inflammatory cells. We report a case of hepatic toxocariasis with atypical clinical and radiologic findings presenting as distinct, solitary hepatic nodule detected in a middle-aged woman.
Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Larva Migrans, Visceral ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Toxocara canis ; Toxocariasis

Eosinophilic synovial effusion is rarely observed in patients with inflammatory nature of synovial fluid, and the differential diagnosis includes parasitic arthritis. Toxocariasis is the one of the most common forms of helminthiasis worldwide and has been reported as a common cause of peripheral blood eosinophilia in Korea. However, joint involvement has been rarely reported in adults with toxocariasis in the English-language literature. Here, we report the first Korean case of a female presenting with acute monoarthritis with an increased number of eosinophils in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid, who was finally diagnosed with toxocariasis.
Adult ; Arthritis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Helminthiasis ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Synovial Fluid ; Toxocariasis*

Human toxocariasis is a common helminthozoonosis due to the infestation of toxocara canis or toxocara cati larvae, and is a common cause of blood eosinophilia in Korea. Toxocariasis has various clinical manifestations depending on the involved organ, and cardiac involvement can range from asymptomatic to fulminant myocarditis with cardiogenic shock. Treatment of toxocariasis is based on corticosteroid and anthelmintic therapies. Here, we report a case of a 57-year-old male with eosinophilic myocarditis caused by toxocariasis as diagnosed via serial echocardiography follow up.
Echocardiography ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Larva Migrans, Visceral ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Toxocara ; Toxocara canis ; Toxocariasis*

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of ocular toxocariasis in Jeju Island using ultra-wide-field fundus photography. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 40 eyes of 37 patients who were diagnosed with ocular toxocariasis based on clinical aspects and serologic tests. The quality of history-taking was assessed and peripheral blood samples were analyzed. Ocular characteristics were evaluated using ultra-wide-field fundus photography and optical coherence tomography. Changes in visual acuity and funduscopic findings after treatment were also analyzed. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 57.9 years and the mean Toxocara canis IgG titer was 1.979 ± 0.486. The most common fundus findings were vitreous opacity (63.6%) and granuloma (60%). Granulomas that were not initially observed within the field of view of conventional fundus photography were found using ultra-wide-field imaging in 15 eyes (62.5%). Ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography showed peripheral vascular leakage in 16 eyes (69.6%). Treatment with oral prednisolone and albendazole resulted in average vision improvements of 0.19 ± 0.07 logMAR (p = 0.031) as well as significant improvements in anterior chamber inflammation and vitreous opacity. Combination therapy led to a significantly lower recurrence rate than prednisolone monotherapy (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In Jeju Island, the mean Toxocara canis IgG titer of ocular toxocariasis was high. The incidences of vitreous opacity and granulomas were also high. Ultra-wide-field fundus imaging was useful for finding peripheral retinal lesions and peripheral vascular leakage that were not observed within the field of view of conventional fundus photography. Ultra-wide-field fundus imaging was valuable not only during clinical diagnosis, but also on follow-up evaluations of ocular toxocariasis. Treatment with oral prednisolone and albendazole effectively improved ocular inflammation and visual acuity and helped reduce the recurrence rate.
Albendazole ; Anterior Chamber ; Diagnosis ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Medical Records ; Photography* ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Serologic Tests ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Toxocara canis ; Toxocariasis* ; Uveitis ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Eosinophilia has numerous diverse causes, and in many patients, it is not possible to establish the cause of eosinophilia. Recently, toxocariasis was introduced as one cause of eosinophilia. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of toxocariasis and the clinical impact of albendazole treatment for toxocariasis in patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review. After evaluation of cause of eosinophilia, the patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin performed immunoglobulin G antibody specific assay for the Toxocara canis larval antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: This study evaluated 113 patients, 69 patients (61%) were suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin. Among these 69 patients, the frequency of T. canis infection was very high (45 patients, 65.2%), and albendazole treatment for 45 eosinophilia with toxocariasis was highly effective for a cure of eosinophilia than no albendazole group regardless of steroid (82.3%, p = 0.007). Furthermore, among the nonsteroid treated small group (19 patients), albendazole treatment for eosinophilia were more effective than no albendazole group, too (83.3% vs. 28.6 %, p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of toxocariasis was high among patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin; therefore, evaluation for T. canis infection is recommended for patients with eosinophilia of unknown origin. Furthermore, for patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin who have positive results for T. canis, albendazole treatment may be considered a valuable treatment option.
Albendazole ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophilia* ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Immunoglobulin G ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Toxocara canis ; Toxocariasis*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Eosinophilia has numerous diverse causes, and in many patients, it is not possible to establish the cause of eosinophilia. Recently, toxocariasis was introduced as one cause of eosinophilia. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of toxocariasis and the clinical impact of albendazole treatment for toxocariasis in patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review. After evaluation of cause of eosinophilia, the patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin performed immunoglobulin G antibody specific assay for the Toxocara canis larval antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: This study evaluated 113 patients, 69 patients (61%) were suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin. Among these 69 patients, the frequency of T. canis infection was very high (45 patients, 65.2%), and albendazole treatment for 45 eosinophilia with toxocariasis was highly effective for a cure of eosinophilia than no albendazole group regardless of steroid (82.3%, p = 0.007). Furthermore, among the nonsteroid treated small group (19 patients), albendazole treatment for eosinophilia were more effective than no albendazole group, too (83.3% vs. 28.6 %, p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of toxocariasis was high among patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin; therefore, evaluation for T. canis infection is recommended for patients with eosinophilia of unknown origin. Furthermore, for patients suspected of eosinophilia of unknown origin who have positive results for T. canis, albendazole treatment may be considered a valuable treatment option.
Albendazole ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophilia* ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Immunoglobulin G ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Toxocara canis ; Toxocariasis*