Experimental murine toxocariasis larval migration to liver, with a general discussion

ABSTRACT

Street dogs were collected from Mansoura District and sacrificed. Toxocara canis worms were extracted from their intestines and females were dissected to collect the uteri ova. Maturation of the eggs developed larvae inside after a month. Male mice were orally infected with different inocula of these infective eggs [larvae-eggs] and sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13 and 17 weeks post-infection [PI]. Gross findings showed hepatomegaly, red spots on the surface, irregularity of the surface, yellowish spots and streaks. The histopathological examination revealed mild cellular infiltration in localized foci in group I [mice given 200 infective toxocara eggs], but extensive in groups II and III [mice given 500 and 1000 infective toxocara eggs, respectively]. Granulomas began to appear in mice sacrificed four weeks PI in the three groups, but it was multiple in group III. Congestion of hepatocytes and sinusoids were detected, fatty degeneration was encountered in group III. Signs of regeneration were reported in groups II and III