Cognitive dysfunction, urinary retention, and a lesion in the thalamus--beware of possible toxocariasis of the central nervous system.
Toxocariasis of the central nervous system is usually characterized by an eosinophilic meningitis, encephalitis or myelitis. We here report a patient with an at least 7 years history of unexplained neurologic signs and symptoms. MRI showed a cystic lesion in the left thalamus, compatible with a parasitic infection. Blood and CSF analyses were positive for Toxocara canis IgG Western-blot, but were otherwise unremarkable. The case report raises the question whether there are chronic or late variants of this disease.
Scheid
Rainer
R
Day Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig, Germany. scheid@cbs.mpg.de
Tina Jentzsch
R
R
Schroeter
Matthias L
ML
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G