RESUMO
Echinostomiasis is an endemic parasitic infection of humans in Korea, especially eastern areas. An Echinostoma infection was diagnosed by gastroduodenoscopy from a 75-year-old Korean female living in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do. She complained of nausea, vomiting and epigastric pain that had persisted for 1 month. Two live worms were attached to the mucosal surface of the duodenal bulb area. After they were removed using an endoscopic forceps, the symptoms were gradually relieved. The worms were identified as Echinostoma hortense by egg morphology, visceral locations and tegumental ultrastructures. Microscopic examination of endoscopic biopsy specimens revealed infiltration by chronic inflammatory cells. In this case, the source of the infection was the loaches purchased from local fish markets located at Hwasun-gun. This is the 5th case of E. hortense infection diagnosed by endoscopy and the 1st case reported in area of southwestern Korea.