Familial Case of Visceral Larval Migrans of Toxocara Canis after Ingestion of Raw Chicken Liver

Min Su Park; Young Joon Ahn; Kyung Rye Moon

doi:10.5223/kjpgn.2010.13.1.70

Journal List > Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr > v.13(1) > 1043482

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Park, Ahn, and Moon: Familial Case of Visceral Larval Migrans of Toxocara Canis after Ingestion of Raw Chicken Liver

Case Report

Korean Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

Korean Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2010; 13(1): 70-74.

Published online: 31 March 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5223/kjpgn.2010.13.1.70

Familial Case of Visceral Larval Migrans of Toxocara Canis after Ingestion of Raw Chicken Liver

Min Su Park, M.D., Young Joon Ahn, M.D.^*, Kyung Rye Moon, M.D.

Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.

^*Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.

Responsible author (krmoon@chosun.ac.kr)

Received 16 February 2010 Accepted 8 March 2010

Abstract

We report a familial case of visceral larva migrans of Toxocara canis after eating raw chicken liver. A 9-year-old female ate raw chicken liver with her father and older brother and was admitted to the hospital with periumbilical pain, a mild fever, and headache. The total peripheral eosinophil count was 9,884/mm³ and the total lgE concentration was 2,317 IU/dL. Chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated multiple, poorly-defined, small, nodular lesions scattered in the liver and lung parenchyma. Toxocara ELISA and Western blot tests were positive in the patient, and her father and brother. A liver biopsy revealed extensive eosinophilic infiltrations in the portal and lobular areas. She took albendazole for 5 days and was discharged in good condition. These results suggest that clinicians should consider foodborne toxocariasis in patients with multiple, small nodules in the liver and lung parenchyma with eosinophilia and a history of raw meat ingestion.

Keywords: Visceral larva migrans, Toxocara canis, Raw liver

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

IgG immunoblot to Toxocara canis TES-Ag. Patients 1 and 2, and positive control revealed the same banding pattern.

Fig. 2

Chest and abdominal CT images of patient 1. (A) Chest CT scan shows multiple, small nodules with poorly-defined margins and a ground-glass opacity. (B) Abdominal CT scan shows multiple, low-attenuated small nodules.

Fig. 3

Liver biopsy finding of patient 1 shows extensive eosinophilic infiltration in the portal and lobular areas (H&E, ×200).

Table 1

Patients' Laboratory Data

Patient 1: daughter, Patient 2: father, Patient 3: son, AST: aspartate aminotransferse, ALT: alanine aminotransferase, T. canis IgG ELISA: Toxocara canis IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, TES Ag: Toxocara excretory-secretory antigen.

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