Les helminthoses à tropisme hépatique

Abstract

The liver is an organ assuming an important role in blood filtering, and because of that it can be in contact with numerous parasites. Protozoa i.e. unicellular eukaryotes, but also helminths that are much more voluminous can be responsible for hepatic localization. Some of them induce a disease mostly with hepatic symptoms, while others are involved in multi-organ manifestations. Diagnosis is sometimes difficult because of few functionnal consequences, or the parasite can even stop its development. Clinical manifestations can also be severe. For these reasons, diagnosis combines direct exam with serology and imagery. Interestingly, the liver tissues are able to respond variously to these infections, with an immune reaction that can be necrotic, granulomatous or fibrotic.