Eosinophilic Pleuritis due to Sparganum: A Case Report

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by migrating plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. Infection in humans is mainly caused by the ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked flesh of infected frogs, snakes, and chickens. Here, we report a rare case of a 45-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with left lower chest pain. The chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed localized pleural effusion in the left lower lobe; further, peripheral blood eosinophilia and eosinophilic pleural effusion were present. Percutaneous catheter drainage was performed, which revealed long worm-shaped material that was identified as a sparganum by DNA sequencing. The patient showed clinical improvement after drainage of the sparganum. This study demonstrates the importance of considering parasitic diseases in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pleural effusion.

A Case of Oular Sparganosis in Korea

PURPOSE: To present a case of ocular sparoganosis presenting as itching sensation. METHODS: A 60-year-old woman presented for removal of an itchy subconjunctival mass in her left eye. Her ocular findings were normal, except for a subconjunctival mass (1.5 x 1.5 mm). RESULTS: A parasite excised from the subconjunctival mass was identified as a sparganum, by microscopic examination after hematoxylin-eosin staining. The mummified parasite was identified as the plerocercoid phase of the sparganum, by microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, parasitic disease should be suspected in a palpable subconjunctival mass unresponsive to the medical treatment.

Feminization and reduction of testicular weight in mouse sparganosis

After infection of male mice with the plerocercoids (spargana) of Spirometra mansoni, serum levels of estrogen and testicular weight were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and weighing machine, respectively. The serum level of estrogen increased progressively in infected mice compared with normal controls, whereas the testicular weight of infected mice decreased significantly (P < 0.05). These results suggest that certain substances from spargana change the steroid hormone metabolisms in the host by unknown pathways, and chronic infection may contribute to change of the function of steroid hormone target organ, i.e., testis, in male mice.

Cerebral sparganosis.

A 22 years male patient presented with recurrent seizures, CT and MRI diagnosis of tuberculoma was made and the patient was treated. When seizures persisted, a craniotomy was done and the excised mass revealed an abscess with a segment of broad solid non-cavitory body, wall with no scolex and loose stroma and smooth muscle fibers. A diagnosis of sparganosis cerebral abscess was made. The case is reported in view of the rarity of cerebral sparganosis in India and the need for awareness of the entity in India.

Intracerebral hematoma caused by sparganum: a case report.

Cerebral sparganosis is caused by migrating larvae of Spirometra mansonoides. This condition is rare. The presenting symptoms include headache, seizures and focal neurological deficit, which are due to a parasitic granulomatous space-occupying lesion. The authors report a case of intracerebral hematoma, which has never been reported as a presenting symptom of cerebral sparganosis. The surgical treatment of this complicated condition yielded poor results when compared to previous reports of the uncomplicated condition.

A case of cerebral sparganosis in South America

Esparganose cerebral (EC) é infecçäo parasitária causada pela larva do Spirometra mansonoides. Raramente afeta o cérebro humano. Descrevemos o caso de um paciente paraguio com 24 anos, que apresentava convulsöes freqüentes e cefaléia há um ano. Tumor frontal foi diagnosticado por TC de crânio e ressecado posteriormente. O exame anátomo-patológico evidenciou larva com características de Sparganum. A evoluçäo do paciente foi satisfatória. Que seja de nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro caso de EC relatado na América do Sul