Spontaneous rupture of a giant diaphragmatic hydatid cyst into the intrapleural space

We report a case of giant diaphragmatic hydatid cyst which ruptured spontaneously into the intrapleural space in a patient with coexistent giant hepatic hydatid cyst. A 62-year-old female was admitted for dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, and right thoracic pain. Clinical findings, laboratory and radiological examinations including multislice computed tomography scan were consistent with the diagnosis of a giant diaphragmatic hydatid cyst which ruptured into the intrapleural space. Surgical intervention was performed through thoracotomy and phrenotomy in a one-stage operation for both cysts. This case shows that hydatid cysts of the diaphragm can rupture into the intrapleural space spontaneously. One-stage operation through thoracotomy may be successful for the surgical intervention for diaphragmatic hydatid cysts with coexistent hepatic cyst

Application of Giemsa stain for easy detection of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae

The application of Giemsa technique to stain compressed diaphragm samples obtained from rodents experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis is described. Diaphragm samples from rats heavily infected with 20 muscle larvae per gram of body weight (20 ML/gbw) were cut into several pieces and stained with Giemsa; on the other hand, whole diaphragms from slightly infected mice (1 ML/gbw) were also stained with Giemsa. Besides, muscle samples were also stained with Giemsa. Observation at 10 x magnification revealed that both ML and nurse cells (NC) look as bluish structures clearly contrasting with the pinkish color of the non-infected muscle fibers. NC in the diaphragms of mice could be easily observed at naked eye as blue points contrasting with the pink surrounding areas formed by the non-infected muscle fibers. Among NC observed in the diaphragms of rats infected with 20 ML/gbw, 4.4% was multiple infection. These findings were confirmed in sectioned and hematoxylin-eosin stained specimens. This data could be usefulness for a rapid diagnosis of trichinellosis in post-mortem mammals without magnification procedures.

Application of Giemsa stain for easy detection of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae

The application of Giemsa technique to stain compressed diaphragm samples obtained from rodents experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis is described. Diaphragm samples from rats heavily infected with 20 muscle larvae per gram of body weight (20 ML/gbw) were cut into several pieces and stained with Giemsa; on the other hand, whole diaphragms from slightly infected mice (1 ML/gbw) were also stained with Giemsa. Besides, muscle samples were also stained with Giemsa. Observation at 10 x magnification revealed that both ML and nurse cells (NC) look as bluish structures clearly contrasting with the pinkish color of the non-infected muscle fibers. NC in the diaphragms of mice could be easily observed at naked eye as blue points contrasting with the pink surrounding areas formed by the non-infected muscle fibers. Among NC observed in the diaphragms of rats infected with 20 ML/gbw, 4.4% was multiple infection. These findings were confirmed in sectioned and hematoxylin-eosin stained specimens. This data could be usefulness for a rapid diagnosis of trichinellosis in post-mortem mammals without magnification procedures.

Prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in horses in Mongolia.

Sarcocystis infection was detected in 93% of horses in Mongolia. Using the compress method, sarcocysts were found in the muscles of the diaphragm, heart and tongue in 40 of the 43 horses that were slaughtered at the Makh Impex Meat Company in Ulaan Baatar in July 1998. The muscle of the tongue showed the highest rate (97.5%) of infection. The distribution of sarcocysts in the muscles was positively correlated with horse age; the rate of detection was significantly lower (p=0.01) in the under 10 year old group than the older group. All horses were apparently healthy and were slaughtered for human consumption.

Frecuencia de triquinosis humana en Concepción y Arauco, Chile: estudios en personas autopsiadas en el Servicio Médico Legal de Concepción: junio 1996 a marzo 1997 / Frequency of human trichinosis in Concepción and Arauco, Chile: study in autopsied persons at the Servicio Médico Legal, Concepción: june 1996 to march 1997

The frequency of trichinosis was determined in 300 dead persons, residents in the provinces of Concepción and Arauco, and requiring necropsy at the Servicio Medico Legal of Concepción. Diaphragm muscle samples were taken from june 1996 to march 1997. The diagnosis was made by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion techniques. Five samples (1.67 percent) were positive. There was not differences between sexes. Positive cases were found mainly among 30 to 49 years old people belonging to middle-lower class. Both diagnostic techniques showed diferent sensitivity as a consequence of the parasitic load and on the contrary, the artificial digestion was less sensitiva when the cyts were fully calcified

Tendencia actual de la epidemiología de la triquinosis humana en Chile / Present trends of human trichinosis epidemilogy in Chile

Surveillance of the epidemiology of human triquinosis in Chile has been maintained during the last 30 years by the Department of Parasitology. Incidence and prevalence have been followed-up by analysing Ministry of Health annual reports and periodical phototrichinoscopic examination of diaphragm samples from individuals autopsied at the Santiago Medico Legal Service. A decrease has been observed on: incidence from 1.4 per 100.000 in the 1960s to 0.7 in the 1980s down to 0.3 in 1993 and 1994 and to 0.5 in 1995, and prevalence from 3.4 percent 2.8 percent, 2.0 percent and 0.8 percent in 1972, 1982, 1992 and 1997 respectively. A predominance of the prevalence in the groups of more age, with the observation of calcified Trichinella spiralis larvae should be indicating a decline of new infections in the general population. This decrease of frequence of human trichinosis in Chile is possible due to the interaction of two main factors, efficacy and higher implementation of control measures and significant advances in porcine technology with a resulting provision to consumers of pork from young animals practically trichinosis free

Sarcocystis sp. en el diafragma de un gato doméstico de Valdivia, Chile / Sarcocystis sp. in a domestic cat diaphragm at Valdivia, Chile

During 1987, diaphragm of 24 domestic cats from the city of Valdivia, Chile, were examined. In one (3,7 percent) cat infection by cysts of Sarcocystis sp. was observed. This is the first report of feline muscular infection by Sarcocystis sp. in Chile

Detection of Trichinella by various methods in Yugoslavia.

From studies performed on experimentally infected pigs, it was possible to conclude that enzymatic digestion methods are superior to trichinoscopy for inspection of pork for the presence of Trichinella spiralis. The analyses included comparative examination of samples taken from five different parts of diaphragm tissue.

Epidemiology and diagnosis of sarcocystosis.

The studies included a total of 788 swine, of which 395 animals were raised on state farms and 393 on privately owned farms. Using artificial digestion (by trypsin) of diaphragm muscles, cystozoites were detected in 193 swine; 24.49% out of 788 animals examined. Among the 395 swine raised on state farms, the presence of cystozoites was demonstrated in 63 (15.95%) of the animals, while in 393 swine from privately-owned farms, cystozoites were found in 130 (33.07%) of those examined. By histological methods cystozoites were detected in 43 swine (18.14%) of the tested animals.

Sarcocystis in caribou (Rangifer tarandus terraenorae) in Newfoundland.

Prevalence of species of Sarcocystis in muscle of 36 caribou, Rangifer tarandus terraenorae, shot in Newfoundland, Canada, was 53%. A greater percentage of infected animals were obtained from the central part of the island. The highest concentration of microscopic sarcocysts, 1/mm2 of tissue, was observed in a 5-year old animal. Although widely distributed throughout the body, cysts were more prevalent in the tongue and diaphragm. The potential of Sarcocystis in caribou as a food-borne disease organism in man cannot be overlooked in view of its prevalence in meat and its widespread consumption, when lightly cooked, in rural Newfoundland.