Ocular Toxocariasis Presenting as Endophthalmitis in a Young Adult Intravenous Drug User

This report describes the diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis presenting as endophthalmitis in an adult intravenous drug user.

A case is reported.

Fundus imaging showed numerous white opacities obscuring the macula. Toxocara canis serology was reactive with an enzyme immunoassay titer of 1:2 (positive ≥ 1:32). Findings from bacterial and fungal cultures were negative, and vitrectomy cytology revealed no organisms. Postoperatively, serial optical coherence tomography imaging demonstrated a slight decrease in size of an intraretinal hyperreflective lesion in the macula.

Owing to a variety of presentations, ocular toxocariasis can be challenging to diagnose. In a patient with a history of intravenous drug use where fungal and bacterial organisms are more common causes of endophthalmitis, it is important to have a wide differential of causative organisms, particularly in the context of negative culture results and a worsening clinical examination.