Visceral Larva Migrans Involving the Myocardium: Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature

Abstract

Two cases of asymptomatic visceral larva migrans (VLM) involving the myocardium, discovered during open heart surgery, are reported. Only 7 cases of VLM myocarditis were found in recent English publications. All 7 cases involved children, with most of the patients acutely ill. Our 2 asymptomatic cases, coupled with the high rate of positive serologic tests in the general population, stress the widespread nature of Toxocara canis infection in human and the large number of subclinical, undetected cases.