Toxocara Brain Infection in Pigs is Not Associated with Visible Lesions on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Jul;103(1):273-275. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0912. Epub 2020 May 14.

Abstract

Human exposure to Toxocara spp. is very frequent, and its larvae can cross the blood-brain barrier and invade the central nervous system (CNS), causing neurotoxocariasis. We aimed to establish a neurotoxocariasis animal model in pigs confirmed by necropsy. Also, the presence of larvae in the CNS was assessed using magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs), to establish brain lesions caused by the larvae migration. Ten pigs were infected intraperitoneally with 3,000 Toxocara larvae. Cerebral toxocariasis was evaluated using MRIs at days 7, 14, 21, and 49, and pigs were euthanized after the examination. Brain tissues were examined by microscopy, and five pigs presented Toxocara, most frequently at day 21 after infection. None of the 10 pigs showed alterations on MRIs. Our study confirms that intraperitoneal Toxocara infection produces neurotoxocariasis in pigs. Toxocara larvae passage through the brain does not seem to produce lesions detectable at MRIs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / parasitology*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / diagnosis
  • Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / parasitology
  • Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Larva
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neuroimaging
  • Swine / parasitology
  • Swine Diseases / diagnosis
  • Swine Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Swine Diseases / parasitology*
  • Toxocara*
  • Toxocariasis / diagnosis
  • Toxocariasis / diagnostic imaging*