Human toxocariasis and pyogenic liver abscess: A possible association

OBJECTIVES: To study the role of human toxocariasis in the pathogenesis of pyogenic liver abscess. METHODS: We compared the serology for toxocariasis and serum levels of IgE in 16 patients with pyogenic liver abscess to those in 32 matched (age and gender) controls to define the possible association between these two entit ies. RESULTS: The serology for toxocariasis was positive in 10 of 16 patients co mpared with 4 of 32 controls. The relative odds and 95% confidence interval (conditional logistic regression), comparing cases and matched controls, w as significant (1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.7) for Toxocara serolog y. Regarding IgE serum levels, there was no difference between cases and co ntrols. CONCLUSIONS: Human toxocariasis can be one of the predisposing causes of py ogenic liver abscess, especially in tropical countries in which this parasi tic disease is common. Treatment of human toxocariasis may prevent morbid c omplications like hepatic abscess and should be considered in patients with clinical and/or serological evidence of Toxocara infection.