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- Title
Ten Facts about Toxocariasis.
- Authors
INAGAKI, KENGO; WILLIAMS, JOHN M.; PALMER, APRIL; HOBBS, CHARLOTTE V.
- Abstract
Toxocariasis is caused by larval stages of the parasite, Toxocara spp. This parasite is a helminth that infects dogs and cats, and when it infects humans, it cannot complete its life cycle in humans. Migrating larvae of these zoonotic ascarids may be associated with significant pathology by wandering through extraintestinal viscera, causing tissue necrosis and provoking eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation. The clinical syndromes of visceral larva migrans (VLM), neural larva migrans (NLM), ocular larva migrans (OLM), or covert toxocariasis are most commonly caused by larvae of the dog ascarid Toxocara canis and, less frequently, the cat ascarid Toxocara cati. Covert toxocariasis refers to asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic infection, and this clinical entity remains a controversial condition/diagnosis due to the large number of seropositive asymptomatic patients. However, associations of positive antibody status and respiratory presentations such as asthma and wheezing, other subtle allergic presentations, epilepsy, and neurocognitive developmental delays have been reported in some studies. This review gives a brief overview for the clinician, providing a knowledge base for recognition of this disease, which is more highly prevalent in the American South, including the state of Mississippi.
- Publication
Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 2023, Vol 64, Issue 1, p14
- ISSN
0026-6396
- Publication type
Article