Inferior rectus muscle ocular cysticercosis: a case report

Cysticercosis is a systemic parasitic disease caused by the larval form of cestode Taenia solium. It has a worldwide distribution and is potentially harmful with variable clinical manifestations. The most commonly involved sites include eye, brain, bladder wall, and heart. Ocular cysticercosis can be extraocular or intraocular and may present with varied clinical symptoms. We report the condition in a thirteen year old female child who presented with mild lower lid swelling and diplopia in upgaze, wherein cysticercus cellulosae cyst was found within the mass of the right inferior rectus muscle. It becomes important to report this case because of the relative rarity of the condition these days, unusual site of the cyst and the young age of the patient

Alteration of Cytokine Production during Visceral Larva Migrans by Toxascaris leonina in Mice

To determine alteration of immune responses during visceral larva migrans (VLM) caused by Toxascaris leonina at several time points, we experimentally infected mice with embryonated eggs of T. leonina and measured T-helper (Th) cell-related serial cytokine production after infection. At day 5 post infection (PI), most larvae were detected from the lungs, spleen, intestine, and muscle. Expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and CCL11 (eotaxin) showed a significant increase in most infected organs, except the intestine. However, expression of the CXCL1 (Gro-alpha) gene was most highly enhanced in the intestine at day 14 PI. Th1-related cytokine secretion of splenocytes showed increases at day 28 PI, and the level showed a decrease at day 42 PI. Th2-related cytokine secretion of splenocytes also showed an increase after infection; in particular, IL-5 level showed a significant increase at day 14 PI, and the level showed a decrease at day 28 PI. However, levels of Th17-related cytokines, IL-6 and IL-17A, showed gradual increases until day 42 PI. In conclusion, Th1, Th2, and Th17-related cytokine production might be important in immune responses against T. leonina VLM in experimental mice.

Susceptibility of Laboratory Rodents to Trichinella papuae

Members of the genus Trichinella are small nematodes that can infect a wide range of animal hosts. However, their infectivity varies depending on the parasite and host species combination. In this study, we examined the susceptibility of 4 species of laboratory rodents, i.e., mice, rats, hamsters, and gerbils to Trichinella papuae, an emerging non-encapsulated Trichinella species. Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella pseudospiralis were also included in this study for comparison. Fifteen animals of each rodent species were infected orally with 100 muscle larvae of each Trichinella species. Intestinal worm burden was determined at day 6 and 10 post-inoculation (PI). The numbers of muscle larvae were examined at day 45 PI. The reproductive capacity index (RCI) of the 3 Trichinella species in different rodent hosts was determined. By day 6 PI, 33.2-69.6% of the inoculated larvae of the 3 Trichinella species became adult worms in the small intestines of the host animals. However, in rats, more than 96% of adult worms of all 3 Trichinella species were expelled from the gut by day 10 PI. In gerbils, only 4.8-18.1% of adult worms were expelled by day 10 PI. In accordance with the intestinal worm burden and the persistence of adults, the RCI was the highest in gerbils with values of 241.5+/-41.0 for T. papuae, 432.6+/-48 for T. pseudospiralis, and 528.6+/-20.6 for T. spiralis. Hamsters ranked second and mice ranked third in susceptibility in terms of the RCI, Rats yielded the lowest parasite RCI for all 3 Trichinella species. Gerbils may be an alternative laboratory animal for isolation and maintenance of Trichinella spp.

An Outbreak of Trichinosis with Molecular Identification of Trichinella sp. in Vietnam

The 5th outbreak of trichinosis occurred in a mountainous area of North Vietnam in 2012, involving 24 patients among 27 people who consumed raw pork together. Six of these patients visited several hospitals in Hanoi for treatment. Similar clinical symptoms appeared in these patients within 5-8 days after eating infected raw pork, which consisted of fever, muscle pain, difficult moving, edema, difficult swallowing, and difficult breathing. ELISA revealed all (6/6) positive reactions against Trichinella spiralis antigen and all cases showed positive biopsy results for Trichinella sp. larvae in the muscle. The larvae detected in the patients were identified as T. spiralis (Vietnamese strain) by the molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (cox3) gene.

Mercury concentration in the freshwater bonefish Cyphocharax gilbert (Curimatidae) and its parasite the crustacean Riggia paranensis (Cymothoidae)

Fish parasites can accumulate heavy metals reaching higher concentrations than the host and may affect the host's bioaccumulation. The present study compared total mercury concentration in the liver and muscle of Cyphocharax gilbert and in the parasite Riggia paranensis sampled in the middle Itabapoana River, Brazil, also considering the reproductive stages of both fish and parasite. Mean concentrations of mercury in muscle of fish varied from 20.8 ng.g-1 in mature females to 38.1 ng.g-1 in post-spawning females. The mean concentrations in fish liver varied from 60.9 ng/g in post-spawning females to 110.4 ng.g-1 in infested males. The mean concentration of mercury in parasites varied from 26.2 ng.g-1 in specimens carrying early embryo to 39.5 ng.g-1 in specimens with eggs. Positive and significant associations (P<0.05) were found between the total mercury concentrations in parasites and muscle of host (both females and males), and between concentrations in parasites and in the liver of male hosts. These results suggest that R. paranensis can be used to indicate mercury levels in edible parts of C. gilbert.

Parasitos de peixes podem acumular metais pesados em concentrações acima dos hospedeiros, podendo afetar a bioacumulação nestes. O presente estudo comparou a concentração total do mercúrio no fígado e no músculo de Cyphocharax gilbert e no parasito Riggia paranensis, coletados no trecho médio do rio Itabapoana, Brasil, considerando o estágio reprodutivo tanto dos peixes como dos parasitos. A concentração média do mercúrio nos músculos dos peixes variou entre 20,8 ng.g-1 nas fêmeas maturas e 38,1 ng.g-1 nas fêmeas desovadas. As concentrações médias nos fígados dos peixes variaram entre 60,9ng/g em fêmeas desovadas e 110,4 ng.g-1 em machos parasitados. Entre os parasitos, as concentrações médias de mercúrio variaram entre 26,2 ng.g-1 em espécimes com embriões iniciando o desenvolvimento to 39,5 ng.g-1 em espécimes com ovos . Associações positivas e significativas (P<0.05) foram encontradas entre as concentrações totais de mercúrio em parasitos e músculos dos hospedeiros (tanto em macho como em fêmeas) e entre as concentrações nos parasitos e os fígados dos hospedeiros machos. Estes resultados sugerem que o parasito R. paranensis pode ser utilizado como bioindicador dos níveis de mercúrio nas partes comestíveis de C. gilbert.

case of primary adductor muscle hydatidosis: "water-lily sign" on magnetic resonance imaging

Primary hydatidosis of muscle is very rare and can cause a variety of diagnostic problems. Its diagnosis is based on clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. As this infestation resembles a soft tissue tumor on clinical examination, the preoperative radiological diagnosis is very important to avoid unnecessary biopsy. The objective of this article is to present the pathognomonic "Water-lily sign" that has not been previously reported in this muscle group. To the best of our knowledge, our case is the second reported case of this pathognomonic sign in magnetic resonance imaging of primary intramuscular hydatidosis

analysis of hydatid cyst surgeries in patients referred to hospitals in Khorram-Abad, Lorestan during 2002-06

Echinococcosis or hydatid cyst [HC] is considered as one of the major parasitic infections in Iran that causes many health problems and economic losses in communities. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HC in patients referred to surgery wards of three hospitals in Khorram-Abad, the center of Lorestan province in South-West of Iran from 2002 - 2006. Totally, 64513 medical records of patients referred to surgery wards of Shohadaye Ashayer, Tohid and Taamine Ejtemaee hospitals in Khorram-Abad Lorestan were studied. These patients had gone under surgical operations for different reasons. Among these medical records, 43.7% belonged to Shohadaye Ashayer, 8.2% to Tohid and 18.1% to Taamine ejtemaee hospitals. Cysts were found in liver and lung in 61.5% and 20.5% of cases, respectively. In addition, cysts were found in brain, muscle, kidney eye and peritonea in the remaining 18% of cases. A very low level of knowledge about hydatid disease was found in the community. The mean age of the patients was 40.2 years and the highest rate of infection with HC was observed in women. Further studies are required to find the etiologic factors of H.C in Khorram-Abad Lorestan-Iran

Contrast staining of trichinella spiralis larvae in fresh, frozen and formalin preserved muscles

Fresh, frozen-thawed and formalin-preserved muscle samples heavily infected with Trichinella larvae were cut into several pieces and stained with Giemsa and Leishman and the reference Haematoxylineosin [H and E] stain. Observation under microscope revealed that both muscle larvae and nurse cells in fresh and formalin preserved specimens appeared as purplish blue structures contrasting with the pinkish color of non-infected muscle fibers in both Giemsa and Leishman stains. These findings were confirmed in H and E stained samples. However, frozen samples did not show contrast stain

Larval Gnathostoma hispidum detected in the red banded odd-tooth snake, Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, from China

A total of 205 larval gnathostomes were collected from 18 (22.5%) of 80 red banded odd-tooth snakes, Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, which had been smuggled from China and confiscated at Customs in Busan, Republic of Korea. In order to identify the species, some of the larvae were observed by a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The larvae were 2.18 x 0.29 mm in average size, and had a pair of lips at the anterior end, a muscular esophagus, 2 pairs of cervical sacs, and brownish intestines. The head bulb was characteristically equipped with 4 rows of hooklets; the average number of hooklets in each respective row was 38.6, 40.5, 41.5, and 43.7. In SEM views, the mouth evidenced a pair of lateral lips of equal size in a half-moon shape. Each lip featured a couple of labial papillae and a small amphid located between the 2 papillae. The hooklets on the head bulb had single-pointed, posteriorly-curved tips. The cuticular spines were larger and more densely distributed on the anterior part of the body, and decreased gradually in size and number toward the posterior body. On the basis of these morphological characteristics, the larvae were identified as the third stage larvae of Gnathostoma hispidum.

Infecção por Kudoa Meglitsch, 1947 (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida) em musculatura esquelética de espada Trichiurus lepturus L. (Teleostei: Trichiuridae) / Kudoa Meglitsch, 1947 (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida) infection in somatic muscles of cutless fish Trichiurus lepturus (Teleostei: Trichiuridae)

A presente pesquisa reporta a presença de lesões causadas por Kudoa sp. nas fibras musculares somáticas de espada (Trichiurus lepturus L.), capturado na praia de Itaipu, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. Utilizou-se, como amostragem, 47 exemplares, que foram medidos e necropsiados no Laboratório de Inspeção e Tecnologia de Pescado da Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal Fluminense. As amostras de tecidos foram processadas para a técnica de inclusão em parafina e coloração pela técnica de hematoxilina-eosina. Do total de espécimes amostrados, 9 (19,15 por cento) apresentavam, nas fibras musculares somáticas, cistos parasitários, do tipo plasmódio, com ausência de reação inflamatória. Os parasitos possuiam quatro válvulas, apresentando morfologia característica do gênero Kudoa. A variação no número de cistos foi de um a quinze, com média de 5,2. As médias dos comprimentos e das larguras dos cistos foram de 79,74 mm e 31,22 mm, respectivamente. O menor animal (68,0cm) apresentou o maior número de cistos. Não foi observada miolique-fação em T. lepturus.

The presence of Kudoa sp in somatic muscle of cutless fish (Trichiurus lepturus) captured at Itaipu beach, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, is been reported. It was used as samples 47 specimes, measured and necropsied at the Laboratório de Inspeção e Tecnologia de Pescado da Faculdade de Veterinária daUniversidade Federal Fluminense. The tissues were processed for paraffin inclusion and stained by hematoxilina-eosin. From the total samples, nine of them (19,15%) showed plasmodic type cists in muscular fibers without inflammatory reaction. It was four valves, the principal feature of the genus. The number of cysts varied from one to 15, with a average of 5,1. The length and width average of cysts were 82,57 and 28,27, respectively. The length average of positive fishes was 116cm. The smaller animal (68,0) showed more cysts. It was not observed myoliquefaction even several hours after captured.

Quistes hidatídicos primitivos de localización extraabdominal y extrapulmonar / Primary hydatidic cysts of extraabdominal and extrapulmonary location

La hidatidosis extraabdominal y extrapulmonar es excepcional y compromete un amplio espectro de localizaciones que habitualmente son respetadas por esta parasitosis. Se presentan 11 pacientes con quistes hidatídicos primitivos extraabdominales y extrapulmonares operados en un período de 20 años, que representan el 1,9 por ciento de todos los casos nuevos de hidatidosis operados en ese lapso. La parasitosis se ubicó en 2 casos en glándula tiroides, 1 en parótida, 1 en mama, 5 en músculos, 1 en región perianal y 1 en triángulo posterior del cuello. Seis enfermos fueron del sexo femenino y 5 del masculino; la mediana de edad fue de 36 años con un margen de 8 a 65 años. La procedencia fue del área rural en 10 pacientes. El diagnóstico preoperatorio fue correctamente realizado en 4 (36 por ciento) enfermos, donde la punción aspirativa jugó un papel fundamental. Todos los casos fueron tratados quirúrgicamente sin presentarse complicaciones ni mortalidad asociadas a la cirugía. En pacientes con tumores extraabdominales y extrapulmonares provenientes de regiones de hidatidosis endémica, debe tenerse presente el diagnóstico de quiste hidatídico y realizar estudios complementarios conducentes a confirmar el diagnóstico, destacando la punción aspirativa del quiste que puede proporcionar el diagnóstico de certeza de la parasitosis

Visceral larva migrans and tropical pyomyositis: a case report

Os autores relatam o caso de um jovem com piomiosite tropical grave, eosinofilia e hiperimunoglobulinemia E. O paciente relatou historia de contato com um cao e o teste de ELISA para Toxocara canis revelou-se positivo. O Staphylococcus aureus foi a unica bacteria isolada da secrecao purulenta obtida dos abscessos musculares. Sugere-se que a piomiosite tropical possa ser iniciada pela presenca das larvas desse ou de outros parasitos com tropismo para os musculos. As alteracoes imunologicas e estruturais nos musculos acometidos pelas larvas e a presenca de bacteriemia podem favorecer a instalacao da bacteria e o desenvolvimento da piomiosite

Metacercariae in fishes of Sun Moon lake which is an endemic area for Clonorchis sinensis in Taiwan.

The Sun Moon lake in Central Taiwan is a known endemic area for clonorchiasis. Of the 45 fresh water fish, Hemiculter leucisculus, from the lake that were examined by artificial gastric juice digestion in October 1995, all were found to harbor metacercariae in their muscle. The number of metacercariae isolated from each fish ranged from 2 to 2,185, with an average of 254. A total of 11,443 metacercariae was collected from the 45 fish. Of the 4,223 metacercaria that were examined under light microscope, 4,064 (96.23%) were found to belong to Haplorchis taichui, 90(2.13%) to H. pumilio, 2(0.05%) to C. sinensis and 67 (1.59%) to unknown species due to the metacercariae being not yet developed or immature. The 2 C. sinensis metacercariae were obtained from 2 out of 45 fish examined. Our results contrast with reports of a decade ago which stated that all the fish of the Sun Moon lake examined were positive for C. sinensis. Possible reasons for the decrease of C. sinensis metacercariae are the disappearance of pig farms around the lake, increased awareness of the trematode by the lakeside inhabitants and probably the exclusive use of mammals as its definitive host by C. sinensis. In contrast, besides mammals, Haplorchis spp also use birds as their definitive hosts.

A survey of bovine, bubaline and swine sarcocystosis in the Philippines.

In a survey conducted from January to December, 1994, muscle tissues in 12 out of 22 slaughtered carabaos ages 8-17 years old and obtained from the Food Terminal Inc, Abbatoir in Laguna showed numerous white and creamy elliptic-shaped soft bodied macrocysts in the throat muscles. Microscopic examination of the throat and cardiac muscle tissues revealed the presence of fusiform-shaped microcysts. Our observations are consistent with previous reports incriminating Sarcocystis fusiformis as the most important etiologic agent of bubaline sarcocystosis in the country. In a survey of bovine sarcocystosis in muscle tissues of imported Australian cattle (Brahman Breed) and native cattle obtained from various slaughter houses in Manila and suburbs, prevalence rates of 17% (98/577) and 3% (1/31) were noted, respectively. Sarcocysts were predominant in skeletal muscles and to a lesser extent in cardiac, esophageal and diaphragm muscle tissues. Light microscopic examination of sarcocysts morphology suggests Sarcocystis cruzi (= Sarcocystis bovis), and Sarcocystis hominis (= Sarcocystis bovihominis) or Sarcocystis hirsuta (= Sarcocystis bovifelis) as the likely etiologic agents of bovine sarcocystosis in the country. Of the 225 swines examined, only muscle tissues from a 6-month old swine revealed very young sarcocysts (= metrocytes). A review of available documented studies on sarcocystosis suggests that to date, our findings may represent the first data on the prevalence of bovine and swine sarcocystosis in the Philippines.

Comparación de la reacción inflamatoria causada por el metacestodo de T. solium en músculos y encéfalos de cerdos / Comparison of the inflammatory reaction caused by the metacestode of Taenia solium in brains and muscles of pigs

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la reacción inflamatoria que causan los metacestodos de T. solium en tejidos muscular y nervioso de cerdos. Se estudiaron músculos y encéfalos parasitados de cerdos, inoculadoss con huevos de parásito adulto y sacrificados a los 70 y 210 días posinoculación. Los resultados demuestran que las larvas alojadas en el tejido muscular causan una respuesta inflmatoria más severa que las localizadas en el encéfalo. El análisis estadístico Kruskal-Wallis y Quade de los resultados, indican una diferencia altamente significativa (p=3.8 E-0.8) con lesiones más acentudas en el tejido muscular

Estudio cualitativo y cuantitativo de la presencia de posoncósferas de taenia solium en el tejido muscular de cerdos con y sin cisticercosis / Qualitative and quantitative study on taenia solium posoncospheres in pigs with and without cysticercosis in muscular tissues

It was determined the presence of posoncospheres in muscular tissues in 20 natural cysticercotic pigs and in 20 pigs apparently free of taenia solium metacestodes. Ten differents anatomical regions were dissected, giving 400 samples in total. The animals were slaugthered in Ecatepec, México State, México. The samples were kept in bottles with saline and were processed in the Laboratorio de Biología de Parásitos, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM); cysticercus were counted and later on the resulting muscular mass was grinded and observations were made in the sediment for posoncospheres search. Mann-Withney statistical method revealed meaningful differences between postoncospheres in cysticercotic pigs and not apparently cysticercotic pigs. The linear correlation analysis showed no relation between cysticercus quantity and postoncospheres quantity in the same samples. Postoncospheres were found in cysticercotic animals and in those apparently free of cysticercus, in the last group the quantity was bigger

Histotropismo y patogenicidad de Trypanosoma cruzi en ratón albino (NHI) aislado de triatominos en Nuevo León, México / Histotropism and pathogenicity of Trypanosoma cruzi in albinus mouse (NHI) isolated from triatomines in Nuevo Leon, Mexico

La cepa neolonesa de Trypanosoma cruzi se obtuvo de las deyecciones de los triatominos (Triatoma gerstaeckeri) capturados en General Terán y Dr. Coss, Nuevo León. La cepa fue reproducida en pases sucesivos ratón triatoma y viceversa. Posteriormente, los nidos de amastigotes se localizaron en fibras musculares y cardíacas del ratón albino Mus musculus NHI, mediante observaciones al microscopio de luz y al microscopio electrónico de transmisión, clasificándola como una cepa miotrópica, estableciéndose en menor grado en hígado, riñón y bazo. Los principales cambios patológicos observados fueron la inflamación intersticial, disrupción de fibras musculares, miocarditis, alteración mitocondrial y vacuolización citoplásmica