Cerebral toxocariasis after consumption of raw duck liver.
Human toxocariasis is usually contracted by exposure to contaminated soil. This disease is rarely transmitted by raw meat or giblets of paratenic animals, such as chickens, lambs, or cows. We present a case of isolated cerebral toxocariasis presumably caused by the consumption of raw duck liver. This 55-year-old woman had sudden-onset hemiparesis of the right leg, eosinophilia of 30%, and markedly elevated total serum IgE levels. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated multiple cerebral hyperintense lesions on T2-weighed images. Tests for antibodies to Toxocara in serum and cerebrospinal fluid yielded highly positive results. Repeated courses of albendazole and corticosteroids led to significant clinical improvement.
Hoffmeister
Bodo
B
Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany. b.hoffmeister-infekt@charite.de
Glaeser
Sven
S
Flick
Holger
H
Pornschlegel
Sebastian
S
Suttorp
Norbert
N
Bergmann
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D020809:Central Nervous System Helminthiasis / Q000209:etiology*; D004372:Ducks / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000209:etiology*