Baylisascaris procyonis-Associated Meningoencephalitis in a Previously Healthy Adult, California, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Aug;22(8):1480-4. doi: 10.3201/eid2208.151939.

Abstract

After severe neurocognitive decline developed in an otherwise healthy 63-year-old man, brain magnetic resonance imaging showed eosinophilic meningoencephalitis and enhancing lesions. The patient tested positive for antibodies to Baylisascaris spp. roundworms, was treated with albendazole and dexamethasone, and showed improvement after 3 months. Baylisascariasis should be considered for all patients with eosinophilic meningitis.

Keywords: Baylisascaris procyonis; California; United States; baylisascariasis; encephalitis; eosinophilia; eosinophilic meningitis; helminths; intestinal parasite; meningitis; meningoencephalitis; nematode; parasite; raccoon; roundworm; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Albendazole / administration & dosage
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ascaridida Infections / drug therapy
  • Ascaridida Infections / epidemiology*
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology*
  • Ascaridoidea / isolation & purification*
  • California / epidemiology
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningoencephalitis / drug therapy
  • Meningoencephalitis / epidemiology*
  • Meningoencephalitis / parasitology*
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Dexamethasone
  • Albendazole