Eosinophilic meningomyelitis in toxocariasis: case report and review of the literature

Toxocariasis is a worldwide-occurring parasitic infection leading to tissue damage in various organs due to wandering Toxocara larvae (visceral larva migrans). More than 40 cases of CNS involvement in children and immunocompetent adults have been documented in detail to date. Here, we present eviden...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical neurology and neurosurgery 2005-08, Vol.107 (5), p.432-438
Main Authors: Eberhardt, O., Bialek, R., Nägele, T., Dichgans, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Antibodies, Helminth - cerebrospinal fluid
Biological and medical sciences
Eosinophilia - cerebrospinal fluid
Eosinophilia - parasitology
Humans
Medical diagnosis
Medical imaging
Medical sciences
Meningitis
Meningitis - cerebrospinal fluid
Meningitis - parasitology
Molecular weight
Myelitis
Myelitis - cerebrospinal fluid
Myelitis - parasitology
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Parasitic infection
Spinal cord
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Toxocara canis - immunology
Toxocariasis
Toxocariasis - diagnosis
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Summary:Toxocariasis is a worldwide-occurring parasitic infection leading to tissue damage in various organs due to wandering Toxocara larvae (visceral larva migrans). More than 40 cases of CNS involvement in children and immunocompetent adults have been documented in detail to date. Here, we present evidence of eosinophilic meningomyelitis in an adult without known risk factors and with positive Toxocara antibody response in CSF, but not in blood. Toxocariasis has to remain among the differential diagnosis in patients with eosinophilic CNS infection even if serological tests in blood are negative. Adult cases seem to be more frequent than previously thought (about 60%).
ISSN:0303-8467
1872-6968
DOI:10.1016/j.clineuro.2004.10.003