ABSTRACT
Human intestinal capillariasis is caused by Capillaria philippinensis. This disease is endemic in Philippines and Thailand. To the best of our knowledge, we report the third case of human intestinal capillariasis from India and the first case from Andhra Pradesh, which is a non-endemic area. A 40-year-old female presented with diarrhoea, vomiting, decreased urinary output, ascitis, pedal oedema, hypoalbuminemia, and electrolyte imbalance. Microscopic examination of stool sample revealed the presence of ova, larvae, and adult worms of C. philippinensis. Patient recovered from the disease after taking albendazole 400 mg daily for 1 month along with supportive treatment.
Subject(s)
Adult , Albendazole/administration & dosage , Animals , Anthelmintics/administration & dosage , Capillaria/isolation & purification , Enoplida Infections/diagnosis , Enoplida Infections/drug therapy , Enoplida Infections/parasitology , Enoplida Infections/pathology , Feces/parasitology , Female , Helminthiasis/diagnosis , Helminthiasis/drug therapy , Helminthiasis/parasitology , Helminthiasis/pathology , Humans , India , Intestinal Diseases/diagnosis , Intestinal Diseases/drug therapy , Intestinal Diseases/parasitology , Intestinal Diseases/pathology , Microscopy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We encountered an indigenous case of intestinal capillariasis with protein-losing enteropathy in the Republic of Korea. A 37-year-old man, residing in Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, admitted to the Gyeongsang National University Hospital (GNUH) due to long-lasting diarrhea, abdominal pain, anasarca, and weight loss. He recalled that he frequently ate raw fish, especially the common blackish goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus) and has never been abroad. Under the suspicion of protein-losing enteropathy, he received various kinds of medical examinations, and was diagnosed as intestinal capillariasis based on characteristic sectional findings of nematode worms in the biopsied small intestine. Adults, juvenile worms, and eggs were also detected in the diarrheic stools collected before and after medication. The clinical symptoms became much better after treatment with albendazole 400 mg daily for 3 days, and all findings were in normal range in laboratory examinations performed after 1 month. The present study is the 6th Korean case of intestinal capillariasis and the 3rd indigenous one in the Republic of Korea.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Albendazole/administration & dosage , Anthelmintics/administration & dosage , Biopsy , Capillaria/cytology , Diarrhea , Enoplida Infections/drug therapy , Feces/parasitology , Helminthiasis/drug therapy , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/drug therapy , Intestines/parasitology , Protein-Losing Enteropathies/drug therapy , Republic of Korea , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Intestinal capillariasis is caused by a small trichurid nematode, Capillaria philippinensis, which infects freshwater fish as intermediate hosts and subsequently fish eating birds as definitive hosts. It has occurred in areas such as the Philippines and Thailand where people eat raw fish. We report an imported case of intestinal capillariasis in a 31-year-old Korean man who lived in Saipan for ten years. He suffered from diarrhea with weight loss, abdominal distension, and pitting edema in the lower extremities for two years. He ate raw freshwater fish in the Saipan 2 years ago. The diagnosis was confirmed by jejunal biopsy. Flat mucosal surface without villi contained sections of numerous round worms with stichosome, larvae, and eggs which were identified as Capillaria philippinensis. The patient was successfully treated with albendazole.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Albendazole , Biopsy , Birds , Capillaria , Diagnosis , Diarrhea , Eating , Edema , Eggs , Fresh Water , Larva , Lower Extremity , Ovum , Philippines , Protein-Losing Enteropathies , Thailand , Weight LossABSTRACT
Levo-tetramisole was found most effective in the treatment of C. philippinensis infection when given at a dose of 2.5 mg./kg. day for as long as 30 days. The exact value of this drug, however, depends on the further treatment evaluation. Side effects of the drug administration were, however, mild and transient and did not interfere with the completion of the treatment