Ternidens deminutus infection: first pathological report of a human case in Asia.

ABSTRACT

This is a report of Ternidens deminutus infection in a 33 year old Thai female who was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain and a right lower quadrant mass. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an omental mass with attached terminal ileum. Resection of the mass together with the terminal ileum and the right sided colon was performed. Pathologically, the omental mass was an abscess with an immature male Ternidens deminutus identified. The parasite usually is found in the intestine of primates in Africa and Asia. Human infection occurs when food contaminated with infective filariform larvae is ingested. The larvae molt in the intestinal wall and become adults. They pass eggs in feces. Eggs in contaminated soil hatch and become rhabditiform larvae and then infective filariform larvae.