A case of complicated cerebral toxocariasis in a 4-year old child

Abstract

Abstract We report the case of a 4-year-old boy suffering from a cerebral form of toxocariasis. High serum titres of anti-Toxocara antibodies indicated that the primary infection was induced by a high number of Toxocara eggs and that the larvae did not penetrate to cerebrospinal fluid due to the hematoencephalic barrier. MRI of the patient’s brain showed multiple focal lesions spread diffusely in almost all parts of the brain, predominantly paraventricularly. These might be eosinophil-rich granulomatous infiltrates enclosing larvae. Extensive morphological changes were the cause of serious neurological symptoms, most of them being reversible after follow-up therapy. Radiology proved to be useful diagnostic method, but the specific serological assessment had a key role for the final diagnosis. In conclusion, diagnosis of this patient was intracranial primary Toxocara infection with central quadruparesis and parainfective myocarditis.