A case of liver abscess caused by toxocara canis

Abstract

A 53-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of upper abdominal pain. Laboratory data showed eosinophilia, mild liver dysfunction and sight elevation of CEA. Abdominal ultrasonography showed several hypoechoic lesions and computed tomography revealed at least five low density areas with ring enhancement in the liver, which were suspected metastatic tumors or abscesses. We performed a core-needle biopsy of a liver lesion and the pathological findings suggested an eosinophilic abscess. The Toxocara excretory-secretory antibody titer was high in this patient therefore we diagnosed it as a liver abscess caused by Toxocara canis. He took Albendazole, which is the standard treatment for Toxocara canis, and the eosinophilia, liver dysfunction and the liver abscess improved. He had a habit of eating raw venison and wild boar, which might have been the cause of the Toxocara canis infection.