Toxocariasis in Japan

Toxocariasis has long been considered a parasitic disease affecting pet owners and children who often play in sandboxes at public parks. Recent cases of this animal-borne infection, however, indicate that its clinical manifestations and etiologies are changing. In this article, we will describe the critical characteristic features of toxocariasis alongside the contributions of Japanese researchers to a better understanding of the disease. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.