Spontaneous exit of a gnathostome through a surgical wound.

ABSTRACT

A case of subcutaneous gnathostomiasis in which subsequently a gnathostome larva crept out through a surgical wound in a 22-year-old Thai male is described. This case disclosed that although a worm may creep out of the body through certain natural passages as well as the skin, spontaneous exit via a surgical wound is a possibility. Based on the morphology and number of the head-bulb hooklets and cuticular spines by light and electron microscopy and gnathostome was confirmed as a third stage larva of gnathos toma spinigerum.