An outbreak of ascariasis with marked eosinophilia in the southern part of Kyushu District, Japan, caused by infection with swine ascaris.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
;
1997 ; 28 Suppl 1(): 194-6
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-36416
ABSTRACT
Ascariasis has been a representative soil-transmitted intestinal parasitic disease in warm climates. In Japan, this disease was a major and serious public health problem only a few decades ago. However, the incidence of the disease nowadays is reportedly less than 0.01%. Recently in 1994 through 1995, we experienced a total of 14 cases who were suspected as having ascariasis. They were characterized by peripheral blood eosinophilia (30-70%), high serum titers against Ascaris antigen, and most notably, they were absolutely negative for Ascaris eggs in repeated fecal examinations. Specific antibody titers against Ascaris antigen correlated well with the degree of eosinophilia. All patients were living in narrow areas of Kyushu, Japan, where a lot of porcine farms were located. Most of the patients were asymptomatic and pointed out to have eosinophilia during follow-up studies of chronic diseases or in regular check-up. Only one patient had a clear sign of Löffler's syndrome and another had subcutaneous eosinophilic granuloma. However, laboratory examinations revealed moderate liver dysfunction in 7 patients and pulmonary infiltrations in 5 patients. Based on circumstantial and serological evidence, these patients were diagnosed as having been infected with Ascaris lumbricoides suum, a swine Ascaris.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Ascariasis
/
Time Factors
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Disease Outbreaks
/
Ascaris suum
/
Adult
/
Eosinophilia
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Year:
1997
Type:
Article
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