VISCERAL LARVA MIGRANS AND TROPICAL PYOMYOSITIS: A CASE REPORT

• Main Authors: Roberto LAMBERTUCCI, Abdunnabi RAYES, José Carlos SERUFO, Daniela Moura TEIXEIRA, Rogério GERSPACHER-LARA, Evaldo NASCIMENTO, Geraldo BRASILEIRO-FILHO, Ana Cristina SILVA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 1998-11-01
• Series: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Subjects: Tropical pyomyositis; Visceral larva migrans; Staphylococci; Toxocariasis; Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0036-46651998000600008

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.