Diphyllobothriasis and sparganosis in Indonesia

Food-borne zoonotic cestode infections by <I>Diphyllobothrium</I> spp. and <I>Spirometra</I> spp. are relatively uncommon in Indonesia. So far, only one case of diphyllobothriasis was confirmed in 2004 in Jakarta, whereas there were 4 sparganosis cases in Indonesia. Morphology of eggs and gravid proglottids revealed the first case to be caused by <I>Diphyllobothrium</I> species. However, molecular identification of the species was not successful. Sparganosis may not be particularly rare in Indonesia, since <I>Spirometra</I> species have often been found in cats and other animals. These topics in Indonesia are briefly overviewed with reference to historical records and socio-cultural background information.