Echinostoma ilocanum Infection in Two Residents of Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR

Adult specimens of Echinostoma ilocanum (Garrison, 1908) Odhner, 1911 (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) were recovered from 2 riparian people who resided along the Mekong River in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR. In fecal examinations done by the Kato-Katz technique, they revealed echinostome eggs together with eggs of Opisthorchis viverrini (and minute intestinal fluke eggs) and hookworms. To recover the adult flukes, they were treated with praziquantel 30–40 mg/kg in a single dose and purged with magnesium salts. A total of 658 adult fluke specimens were recovered from the 2 people; 456 from case 1 and 202 from case 2. Specimens from case 1 consisted of 335 echinostomes (301 E. ilocanum and 34 species undetermined), 120 O. viverrini, and 1 Haplorchis taichui, and those from case 2 consisted of 36 E. ilocanum, 134 O. viverrini, and 32 H. taichui. Thus, the number of E. ilocanum specimens was 337 in total (average per person, 168.5). From this study, it is suggested that foodborne intestinal flukes and liver flukes are highly prevalent along the Mekong River in Savannakhet Province. The present report describes for the first time human infections with E. ilocanum in Lao PDR.

Echinostome Flukes Receovered from Humans in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR

Echinostome eggs were detected in 22 (1.1%) of 2,074 people residing in riparian villages along the Mekong River in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. In order to recover the adult flukes, 9 persons were treated with praziquantel and purged with magnesium salts. A total of 55 echinostome specimens (4 species) were recovered from the 9 persons. Echinostoma revolutum (8 specimens) was recovered from 3 persons, Artyfechinostomum malayanum (8 specimens) was from 2 persons, Echinochasmus japonicus (33 specimens) was from 7 persons, and Euparyphium sp. (6 specimens) was from 1 person. In Lao PDR, only human infections with E. japonicus were previously known. Therefore, the present study describes human infections with E. revolutum, A. malayanum, and Euparyphium sp. for the first time in Lao PDR. These results indicate that the surveyed villages of Khammouane Province, Lao PDR are low-grade endemic foci of echinostomiasis.

Fish-borne Parasitic Diseases / 한양의대학술지

Parasites transmitted by fish (=fish-borne parasites) and the diseases caused by them are briefly reviewed. The fish-borne parasites known to occur in the Republic of Korea are taxonomically classified as 23 helminth species, which include 5 species of nematodes, 16 species of trematodes, and 2 species of cestodes. Among them, Anisakis simplex, Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus yokogawai, Heterophyes nocens, Echinostoma hortense, and Diphyllobothrium latum are the most important species in public health points of view. The kinds of fish responsible for human infections include various species of fresh water fish, brackish water fish, and marine fish. Pathogenicity and clinical manifestations are variable according to different parasite species and immune status of the host. For prevention of these infections, avoidance of consuming raw or improperly cooked fish is important.

A human case of Echinostoma hortense infection diagnosed by endoscopy in area of southwestern Korea / 대한내과학회지

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.

A human case of Echinostoma hortense (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) infection diagnosed by gastroduodenal endoscopy in Korea

A human Echinostoma hortense infection was diagnosed by gastroduodenoscopy. An 81-year-old Korean male, living in Yeongcheon-shi, Gyeongsangbuk-do and with epigastric discomfort of several days duration, was subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. He was in the habit of eating fresh water fish. Two live worms were found in the duodenal bulb area and were removed using an endoscopic forcep. Based on their morphological characteristics, the worms were identified as E. hortense. The patient was treated with praziquantel 10 mg/kg as a single dose. The source of the infection in this case remains unclear, but the fresh water fish consumed, including the loach, may have been the source. This is the second case of E. hortense infection diagnosed by endoscopy in Korea.