11/46. Various morphologic features of gnathostoma spinigerum in histologic sections: report of 3 cases with reference to topographic study of the reference worm. gnathostomiasis is common in Southeast Asian countries and can be found sporadically in other parts of the world mainly due to human migration. The definitive diagnosis can be given either by identification of the parasite isolated from the patient or through histologic section of the lesion. It is therefore important for pathologists to be familiar with the morphology of parasitic larvae which varies according to the levels of section-cutting so that the diagnosis will not be misled. We present three cases of gnathostomiasis with different features of parasitic morphology and compare these with the reference adult worm. ( info) |
12/46. Case report: Ocular gnathostomiasis in northwestern mexico. A 42-year-old woman from Culiacan in the Sinaloa State of mexico presented with a four-year history of migratory, pruritic, painful swellings of the face. Palpebral edema with conjunctival erythema developed when lesions developed near the eye. Routine eye examination showed a mobile worm in the anterior chamber. Following surgical removal, the parasite was identified by light and electron microscopy as an advanced third-stage larva of gnathostoma sp. This prevalence of this helminthiasis may be increasing in areas where eating freshwater raw fish ("cebiche") is customary. ( info) |
| We present a case of eosinophilic meningitis due to the tissue nematode gnathostoma spinigerum in a patient with remote travel to korea. G. spinigerum is found primarily in Southeast asia, but cases are being increasingly diagnosed in non-endemic areas because of more extensive international travel. The organism has been known to persist in human tissues for over a decade, so earlier travel to endemic areas is important. ( info) |
14/46. Two cases of imported gnathostomiasis in Spanish women. Reported here are two new cases of imported cutaneous gnathostomiasis that occurred in two Spanish women. The first patient acquired the helminth infection while travelling in Southeast asia and the second in mexico. Although the highest prevalence of gnathostomiasis infection is in Southeast asia, the disease is now an emerging public health problem in some countries of latin america. The cases reported here demonstrate the increasing frequency with which human gnathostomiasis is being diagnosed in nonendemic countries as a result of more extensive international travel and migration. ( info) |
15/46. Creeping eruption caused by a larva of the suborder spirurina type X. We report a case of creeping eruption caused by a larva of the suborder spirurina type X, which developed in a 46-year-old Japanese male. The patient ate small raw squids (Watasenia scintillans) 5 days before the onset of symptoms. On examination, an approximately 25-cm-long serpiginous red track with vesicles was observed from the right to the upper left side of the abdomen of the patient. Histological examination revealed the transverse section of a larval worm in the upper to middle dermis.The patient serum was positive only for the antibody against larvae of the suborder spirurina type X in ELISA, and negative for all other anti-parasite antibodies. Because a considerable number of people are fond of eating raw or nearly-raw fish and shellfish in japan, opportunities for developing creeping eruption cause by parasites present in raw fish and shellfish are relatively high. ( info) |
| This is the report of the first case of intraocular gnathostomiasis diagnosed in vietnam. The disease progressed in two months in two distinct phases: in the first phase, the patient had swellings, which appeared at different times and in different locations, on his face--this phase lasted around one month; the second phase was the embedding of the parasite in the vitreous cavity of the right eye and uveitis. Surgical extraction of a living gnathostoma larva was carried out. Based on morphological, histological criteria, the larva may have been an atypical third-stage of gnathostoma spinigerum. ( info) |
17/46. A human case of gnathostomiasis nipponica confirmed indirectly by finding infective larvae in leftover largemouth bass meat. A human case of creeping eruption due to gnathostoma nipponicum was confirmed indirectly by finding infective advanced third-stage larvae in leftover largemouth bass meat. This is the first report indicating that the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) serves as a source of G. nipponicum infection in humans. ( info) |
| As the scope of international travel expands, an increasing number of travelers are coming into contact with helminthic parasites rarely seen outside the tropics. As a result, the occurrence of gnathostoma spinigerum infection leading to the clinical syndrome gnathostomiasis is increasing. In areas where gnathostoma is not endemic, few clinicians are familiar with this disease. To highlight this underdiagnosed parasitic infection, we describe a case series of patients with gnathostomiasis who were treated during a 12-month period at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, london. ( info) |
| gnathostomiasis is a systemic infection caused by migrating nematode larvae of the genus gnathostoma. It is a zoonosis involving a wide variety of animals as intermediate and definitive hosts, and consumption of raw fish is the main risk factor. The condition is most commonly seen in southeastern asia, but has been described in a number of other countries, all outside africa. We report the infection in two travelers returning from southcentral africa, who presented with non-specific symptoms and marked eosinophilia, and in whom schistosomiasis was initially suspected. The typical migratory skin lesions of gnathostomiasis appeared later. The infections responded well to albendazole. The patients acquired the infection in western zambia; this region of africa appears to be a newly identified risk area for gnathostomiasis in tourists who indulge in eating raw freshwater fish. ( info) |
20/46. Cerebral gnathostomiasis as a cause of an extended intracranial bleeding. This is a report of a fourteen year old Thai-girl who presented with acute hemiparesis because of intracranial haemorrhage six weeks after immigrating to germany. Marked blood eosinophilia and raised IgE in serum in comparison with her origin led to the suspected diagnosis of parasitosis. angiography showed mycotic aneurysm typical for cerebral gnathostomiasis one of the major causes of intracranial haemorrhage in children in thailand. This diagnosis was confirmed by detecting specific antibodies against gnathostoma spinigerum in serum and CSF by Western blot. Therapy was started with albendazole and dexamethasone and the girl made a complete recovery. In case of intracranial haemorrhage cerebral gnathostomiasis should be considered if the patient originates from an endemic area. ( info) |