title: Visceral larva migrans and tropical pyomyositis: a case report.
abstract: We report a case of tropical pyomyositis in a boy who presented with a severe febrile illness associated with diffuse erythema, and swelling in many areas of the body which revealed on operation extensive necrotic areas of various muscles that required repeated débridement. The patient gave a history of contact with dogs, and an ELISA test for Toxocara canis was positive. He also presented eosinophilia and high serum IgE levels. Staphylococcus aureus was the sole bacteria isolated from the muscles affected. We suggest that tropical pyomyositis may be caused by the presence of migrating larvae of this or other parasites in the muscles. The immunologic and structural alterations caused by the larvae, in the presence of concomitant bacteremia, would favour seeding of the bacteria and the development of pyomyositis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. lamber@net.em.com.br
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lambertucci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rayes
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Serufo
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerspacher-Lara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brasileiro Filho
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007816:Larva Migrans, Visceral / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017166:Toxocara canis