[Ocular toxocariasis. From biology to therapy]

Ocular toxocariasis represents an organ manifestation of the systemic infection with the Nematode larva Toxocara canis. The infection can provoke very different changes in the eye. Especially posterior uveitis, vitreous body infiltrates, epiretinal membranes and suberetinal granulomas can occur. The diagnosis of these changes can be difficult due to the variety of the symptoms and on the other side by the absence of characteristic specific changes. Moreover unclear findings can occur when only serological examinations are performed. In unclear cases the antibody-detection by means of ELISA from the vitreous body fluid can be useful. The examination of vitreous body material can prove toxocara infection when no systemic signs of infection are present and no antibodies are detectable in the serum. Besides the systemic anti-helminthic therapy with Albendazol the pars plana vitrectomy is a substantial therapeutic option in ocular toxocariasis when vitreo-retinal complications are present. A well timed adequate therapy can stabilize the visual acuity in many cases.