Testicular schistosomiasis

Testicular schistosomiasis is extremely rare, with only 12 cases reported. Reaching the diagnosis for this lesion that mimics malignant tumor is a great dilemma for the radiologist as well as the urologist. We report a case of testicular schistosomiasis from France that was managed conservatively. A 31 - year-old Egyptian male presented to the outpatient clinic with primary infertility for 9 years. Physical examination revealed healthy male without any congenital malformations. Blood count and C-reactive protein level were normal. Hormonal tests were normal. Scrotal ultrasound showed small mass at the right testis. Scrotal exploration was carried out and frozen section results were schistosomiasis. He was given medical therapy, and further investigations were normal. A thorough evaluation must be carried out, and testicular schistosomiasis may be considered in patients living in endemic areas. We emphasize the lack of data to reach this diagnosis by radiological imaging

[ experimental model of hydatidosis in rabbit testis]

Although no part of human anatomy is invulnerable to hydatid disease, it has been reported to occur in most of vital organs. Hydatid disease of urinary tract is uncommon, accounting for only 2-3% of all such cases. Testes are extremely rare sites for echinococcosis. There are only three cases of testicular hydatid disease which were reported. In this laboratory animal model, we studied echinococcosis in rabbit testis. In this experimental trial study, 14 male Albino rabbits [body weight 2.5-3kg] were randomized into two groups: group A [study group], for testicular injection and group B [control group], for intraperitoneal injection of viable protoscoleces. All rabbits were infected, and then housed them under pathogen-free conditions for 10 weeks [70 days]. One rabbit from group A and three from group B died one day after injection, and the other rabbits survived during follow-up period. At 10th week they were all anaesthetized and then we studied all testes with ultrasonography. In group A all testes were excised, and in group B we removed liver, kidneys and took four biopsies from peritoneum, for histopathology investigation. There was demonstrable hydatid cyst [protoscoleces and germinative layer] in testes of five rabbits from group A, but in one rabbit both testes were normal. In group B, three out of four rabbits developed peritoneal hydatidosis. The mechanism of testicular resistance to echinococcosis could be blood-testis barrier because when we directly infected the testes of rabbits with protoscoleces, hydatid cyst developed

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.

The preferential site of adult Wuchereria bancrofti: an ultrasound study of male asymptomatic microfilaria carriers in Pondicherry, India.

BACKGROUND: The traditional method of detection of microfilaria in night blood specimens for the diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti infection is being replaced with circulating filarial antigen in day blood specimens, which has a high sensitivity. However, both methods are indirect tests to detect the presence of adult worms in vivo. Localization of adult worms in vivo in their natural habitat may help in understanding better the end-point of drug treatment, the adulticidal action of antifilarial drugs, and in locating the site of lymphatic pathology. We used ultrasound examination to assess the preferential location of adult worms in an area endemic for lymphatic filariasis. METHODS: Ultrasound examination was done in 36 asymptomatic male carriers of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria to detect the location of adult worms. Both sides of the scrotum (root of the scrotum, epididymis, spermatic cord, testis and the adjoining area), lymphatic vessels and inguinal, popliteal, axillary and epitrochlear lymph nodes were examined using a 7.5 MHz probe in real-time B mode. RESULTS: The 'filaria dance sign (FDS)' suggesting the presence of adult worms was observed in 22 carriers (61%). The preferential site of location of the adult worms was the intrascrotal juxtatesticular lymphatic vessels in 'nests' along the lymphatic vessels of the epididymis, spermatic cord and paratesticular region. The number of nests varied between 1 and 4 with a mean size of 0.3 cm2. In 95% of cases, localization of the worms was unilateral. The mean microfilaria (SD) count-positive cases for those with the filarial dance sign (264 [199]) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than for the negative cases (171 [196]). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound visualization of adult worms of Wuchereria bancrofti in vivo is possible and confirms the concept that the worms have their own territory and reside in 'nests'. The preferential site of localization of the adult worms in men is the intrascrotal juxtatesticular lymphatic vessels.

Hydatidosis and testicular filariasis [D. evansi] in camel [C. dromedrius] in central part of Iran

En 1994, 125 carcases of camel [100 from Isfahan and 25 from Yazd] in slaughter - houses were studied for parasitic infections. Seventy% of the camels were infected with hydatid cyst and half of the males [50%] had testicular filaria identified as Dipetalonema evansi. All the infected male camels except 3, demonstrated sheathed rnicrofilariae in their peripheral blood smears. Although some different helminths were identified in this survey, only hydatid cyst and Dipetalonema evansi, which were more prevalent, are discussed here. These animals are of unknown origin and are used for transportation between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran border areas

Esquistossomose testicular: apresentaçäo de dois casos / Schistosomose in the testiculus: apresentation of two cases

Os autores relatam dois casos de esquistossomose testicular em adultos - um submetido a orquiectomia e outro a biópsia testicular. Mostram a dificuldade para se estabelecer o diagnóstico diferencial com outras patologias escrotais

Development of Brugia malayi in Mongolian gerbils previously exposed to Wuchereria bancrofti.

Twelve Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, were infected with 100 third-stage larvae of Wuchereria bancrofti. One month later these animals, along with 4 control animals, were given 100 third-stage larvae of Brugia malayi. Eleven of the 12 experimental animals and the 4 controls survived, and 8 of the experimental animals and all of the controls demonstrated microfilaremia after 3 months. The animals were killed at 6-months post-infection and examined for parasites. One W. bancrofti larva was found in one of the experimental animals, and 15% of the B. malayi given were recovered as adults from the testes, viscera, and carcass. Thirty-eight percent of the worms given to the controls were recovered from the testes, viscera, and pelt. The worms from the experimental animals also appeared to be smaller. This study suggests that gerbils are able to develop partial resistance to Brugia malayi following a previous infection with Wuchereria bancrofti.

Further studies on the development of Wuchereria bancrofti in laboratory animals.

In an attempt to obtain a small animal laboratory model for Wuchereria bancrofti Mongolian gerbils and hamsters were infected with third-stage larvae of strains of the parasite from Indonesia and China. Gerbils were necropsied at 7 to 591 days and larvae recovered up to 219 days. The third molt occurred on or before 10 days and worms found after 14 days were in the fourth stage. More worms were recovered early in the infection (7 to 30 days) than in older infections. The worms were usually recovered from the testes, pelt and carcass and heart and lungs. An adult male worm was recovered on one occasion from the lung of a gerbil at 92 days. The parasite was also found to develop in hamsters with results similar to those in gerbils. Gerbils and hamsters were given antithymocyte sera before and after infection and more worms were recovered and the worms larger in size in some treated animals. Continued studies with geographic strains of W. bancrofti in various animals should be encouraged in order to find a small laboratory animal model for the parasite.