Introduction: Toxocarosis is a chronic helminthic infection caused by the larvae of Toxocara canis - a round worm parasitizing dogs and rarely Toxocara cati - a round worm parasitizing cats. In humans, Toxocara spp. can cause a systemic disease affecting various organs (Larva migrans visceralis), covert infection and ocular involvement.
Our aim is to analyze the literature on ocular toxocarosis and to present its various clinical course and dynamics.
Materials and Methods: The recent data on recorded cases of ocular toxocarosis are summarized on a local and global scale.
Results and Discussion: The ocular toxocarosis is prevalent in childhood, but may be diagnosed in adults also. The retinal involvement usually results in loss of vision, and in several cases the eosinophilic granuloma mimics a malignant retinoblastoma. Despite its ubiquitous distribution toxocarosis remains one of the lesser- known helminthoses. The timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of the patients with ocular toxoplasmosis require a focused etiological approach from a diverse line of specialists.
Ahn SJ, Woo SJ, Jin Y, Chang YS, Kim TW. Clinical features and course of ocular Toxocariasis in adults. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014, 8 (6): 29-38.
Alabiad CR, Albini TA, Santos CI, Davis JL. Ocular Toxocariasis in a seronegative adult. Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging Retina. 2010, 2:1-3
Balmer A, Francis M. Differential diagnosis of leukocoria and strabismus, first presenting signs of retinoblastoma. Clinical ophthalmology. 2007, 1(4):431–439.
Barisani-Asenbauer T, Maca SM, Hauff W, Kaminski SL, Domanovits H, Theyer I et al. Treatment of Ocular Toxocariasis with Albendazole. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2001, 17(3):287-94.
Barriga O. A critical look at the importance, prevalence and control of Toxocariasis and the possibilities of immunological control. Veterinary Parasitology.1988, 29(2): 195–234.
Biglan AW, Glickman LT, Lobes LA. Serum and vitreous Toxocara antibody in nematode endophthalmitis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1979, 88(5):898-901.
Bird AC, Smith JL, Curtin VT. Nematode Optic Neuritis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1970, 69(1):72-77.
Borg OA, Woodruff AW. Prevalence of Infective ova of Toxocara species in public places. The British Medical Journal. 1973, 4 (5890): 470-472
Choi D, Lim JH, Choi DC, Paik SW, Kim SH, Huh S. Toxocariasis and ingestion of raw cow liver in patients with eosinophilia. Korean J Parasitol. 2008, 46:139–143.
Da Amaral HL, Rassier GL, Pepe MS, Gallina T, Villela MM, Nobre Mde O, et al. Presence of Toxocara canis eggs on the hair of dogs: a risk factor for Visceral Larva Migrans. Vet Parasitol. 2010, 174(1-2):115-118.
Dent JH, Nichols RL, Beaver PC, Carrera GM, Staggers RJ. Visceral Larva Migrans: with a case report. Am J Pathol. 1956; 32(4): 777–803.
Dickson D. Toxocariasis: clinical aspects, epidemiology, medical ecology, and molecular aspects. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2003, 16(2): 265–272.
Elefant GR, Shimizu SH, Sanchez MC, Jacob CM, Ferreira AW. A serological follow-up of toxocariasis patients after chemotherapy based on the detection of IgG, IgA, and IgE antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. J Clin Lab Anal. 2006; 20(4):164-72.
Fisher M. Toxocara cati: an underestimated zoonotic agent. Trends Parasitol. 2003, 19(4):167-70.
Gillespie SH, Dinning WJ, Voller A, Crowcroft NS. The Spectrum of Ocular Toxocariasis. Eye (Lond). 1993, 7 (Pt 3):415-418.
Gillespie SH, Taylor MRH, Holland C. Toxocariasis. In: Gillespie SH, Pearson RD. Principles and Practice of Clinical Parasitology. Chichester; New York: Wiley, 2001. 501-519.
Giuliari GP, Ramirez G, Cortez RT. Surgical treatment of ocular toxocariasis: anatomic and functional results in 45 patients. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2011, 21(4):490-4.
Good B, Holland CV, Taylor MR, Larragy J, Moriarty P, O`Regan M. Ocular toxocariasis in schoolchildren. Clin Infect Dis. 2004, 39(2):173-178.
Goto H, Mochizuki M, Yamaki K, Kotake S, Usui M, Ohno S. Epidemiological survey of intraocular inflammation in Japan. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2007, 51(1):41-44.
Hagler WS, Pollard ZF, Jarrett WH, Donnelly EH. Results of surgery for ocular Toxocara canis. Ophthalmology. 1981, 88(10):1081-1086.
Kim YH, Huh S, Chung YB. Seroprevalence of toxocariasis among healthy people with eosinophilia. The Korean Journal of Parasitology. 2008;46(1):29-32
KÅ‚apeć T, Borecka A. Contamination of vegetables, fruits and soil with geohelmints eggs on organic farms in Poland. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012;19(3):421-5.
Kwon NH, Oh MJ, Lee SP, Lee BJ, Choi DC. The prevalence and diagnostic value of toxocariasis in unknown eosinophilia. Ann Hematol. 2006, 85(4):233-138.
Lim JH. Foodborne eosinophilia due to visceral larva migrans: a disease abandoned. J Korean Med Sci. 2012, 27(1):1-2.
Logar J, Soba B, Kraut A, Stirn-Kranjc B. Seroprevalence of Toxocara antibodies among patients suspected of ocular toxocariasis in Slovenia. Korean J Parasitol. 2004, 42(3):137-40.
Maetz, H. Michael et al. Estimated Prevalence of Ocular Toxoplasmosis and Toxocariasis in Alabama. The Journal of infectious diseases 156.2 (1987)
Magnaval JF, Glickman LT, Dorchies P, Morassin B. Highlights of human toxocariasis. Korean J Parasitol. 2001, 39(1):1-11.
Maguire AM, Green WR, Michels RG, Erozan YS Recovery of intraocular Toxocara canis by pars plana vitrectomy. Ophthalmology. 1990, 97(5):675-680.
Nichols R. The etiology of Visceral Larva Migrans: I. Diagnostic morphology of infective second-stage Toxocara larvae. The Journal of Parasitology.1956, 42 (4): 349-362.
Queiroz ML1, Simonsen M, Paschoalotti MA, Chieffi PP. Frequency of soil contamination by Toxocara canis eggs in the south region of São Paulo municipality (SP, Brazil) in a 18 month period. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2006, 48(6):317-319.
Rainova I, Kurdova R. Specifying clinical forms of Toxocarosis after testing serologically suspected patients. Probl of Infand Paras Diseas. 2007. 35 (1):26 -27.
Roddie G, Stafford P, Holland C, Wolfe A. Contamination of dog hair with eggs of Toxocara canis. Vet Parasitol. 2008, 152(1-2):85-93.
Rubinsky-Elefant G, Hirata CE, Yamamoo JH, Ferreira MU. Human toxocariasis: diagnosis, worldwide seroprevalences and clinical expression of the systemic and ocular forms. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2010, 104(1):3-23.
Seo M, Yoon SC. A seroepidemiological survey of toxocariasis among eosinophilia patients in Chungcheongnam-do. Korean J Parasitol. 2012 Sep;50(3):249-251.
Sharkey JA, McKay PS. Ocular toxocariasis in a patient with repeatedly negative ELISA titre to Toxocara canis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1993 Apr;77(4):253-254.
Shields JA. Ocular Toxocariasis. A Review. Surv Ophthalmol. 1984, 28(5):361-381.
Smith H, Holland C, Taylor M, Magnaval JF, Schantz P, Maizels R How common is human toxocariasis? Towards standardizing our knowledge. Trends Parasitol. 2009, 25(4):182-188.
Stewart JM, Cubillan LD, Cunningham ET Jr. Prevalence, clinical features, and causes of vision loss among patients with ocular toxocariasis. Retina. 2005, 25(8):1005-1013.
Stürchler D, Schubarth P, Gualzata M, Gottstein B, Oettli A. Thiabendazole vs. albendazole in treatment of toxocariasis: a clinical trial. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1989, 83(5): 473-478.
Tran VT, Lumbroso L, LeHoang P, Herbort CP Ultrasound biomicroscopy in peripheral retinovitreal toxocariasis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1999, 127(5):607-609.
Wilder HC. Nematode endophthalmitis. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1950,55:99-109.
Wilkinson CP, Welch RB. Intraocular Toxocara. Am Jour Ophth. 1971, 71 (4):921-930
Woodhall D, Starr MC, Montgomery SP, Jones JL, Lum F, Read RW, Moorthy RS. Ocular toxocariasis: epidemiologic, anatomic, and therapeutic variations based on a survey of ophthalmic subspecialists. Ophthalmology. 2012, 119(6):1211-1217.
Yokoi K, Goto H, Sakai J, Usui M. Clinical features of ocular toxocariasis in Japan. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2003 Dec;11(4):269-275. 45. Zygulska-Machowa H, Ziobrowski S. A case of ocular toxocariasis treated by xenon photocoagulation Klin Oczna. 1987 89(5):213-214.
Георгиева Д, Койнарски В, Перелезов П, Иванов А. Паразитологично изследване на проби пръст и пясък от различни райони на град Стара Загора. Стара Загора, 1998.
Кънева Е, Райнова И, Минева И, Харизанов Р, Кафтанджиев И. Клинични симптоми на токсокароза при изследвани пациенти за периода 2004 – 2013г. 2014, 4 (1): 216–221.
И. Райнова. Токсокароза. София: ПЕН-СОФТ, 2008.
И. Райнова. Патология на зрителния апарат. В: Петров П., Курдова Р. ред. Клинична паразитология и тропическа медицина, София, Изток- Запад, 2016: 92-96