Identification of the avian tracheal trematode Typhlocoelum cucumerinum (Trematoda: Cyclocoelidae) in a host-parasite-environment system: diagnosis, life cycle and molecular phylogeny.

Typhlocoelum cucumerinum is a tracheal parasite of birds widely distributed across the globe. Nevertheless, aspects of the biology of this cyclocoelid are still poorly understood. Herein, we report the finding of T. cucumerinum in definitive and intermediate hosts from an urban waterbody of Brazil. The parasite was initially detected during the necropsy of domestic Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) found dead in the locality. Coproparasitological tests in live animals revealed that 12/47 (25.53%) Muscovy ducks and 2/8 (25%) mallards (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) were infected with T. cucumerinum. Moreover, rediae and metacercariae morphologically similar to T. cucumerinum were found in 3/248 (1.33%) Biomphalaria straminea collected in the same waterbody frequented by the birds. The conspecificity between the adult and the larval stages was confirmed molecularly (100% similarity in Cox-1). Moreover, the phylogenetic position of T. cucumerinum was determined for the first time based on partial fragments of the 28S, Cox-1 and Nad-1 genes. The species grouped with other members of the subfamily Typhlocoelinae with sequences available, but the data obtained do not support the distinctiveness of the genera Typhlocoelum and Tracheophilus. Further studies involving a broader range of species can result in taxonomic rearrangements in Typhlocoelinae.

Prevalence of tracheopulmonary myiasis amidst humans.

Myiasis is a parasitic infestation of live vertebrates with the dipteran larvae that grow within the host while feeding on its living or dead tissue. Human myiasis is prevalent among individuals in close association of domestic animals and those inhabiting the unhygienic conditions. Open neglected suppurative wounds are the favourable sites that attract and stimulate the gravid female flies for oviposition. However, the poor personal hygiene, ignorance and the mental illness further add to it. Tracheopulmonary myiasis involves the infestation of foul smelling nasal and oral orifices or neglected wounds like tracheostomal incisions with the parasitic dipteran larvae which may extend up to the trachea, bronchi and lungs leading to serious health complications. Despite the incidence of human tracheopulmonary infestation is rare, the severe medical impediments and heterogeneous worldwide distribution signify the medical importance of this condition. The present manuscript reviews and summarizes the worldwide reported cases of human tracheopulmonary myiasis and the predisposing risk factors for onset of the same, as future reference for parasitologists and medical professionals.

Nosocomial myiasis with Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in an ICU patient in Mashhad, Northeastern of Iran.

Myiasis is the invasion of larvae to human or animal live tissues by flies belonging to the order Diptera and families like Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Oesteridae, etc. Although rare, nosocomial myiasis must be noted carefully, especially in case of hospitalized patients. A 63-year old man admitted to an ICU ward in Mashhad is investigated and presented in this research. On the 35(th) day of hospitalization, about 100 larvae 6-7 mm in length, yellow to cream and fusiform were observed around the tracheotomy site. They were identified as second instar larvae of Lucilia genus of the family Calliphoridae based on morphological characters of the larvae. However, for exact identification of the species, the emerging adults must also be tested. According to the standard key of adult flies, they were identified as Lucilia sericata.

Leishmaniasis mucosa nasolaringotraqueal en un adolescente / Nasolaryngotracheal mucosal leishmaniasis in an adolescent

La leishmaniasis es un problema creciente de salud pública, que produce un gran impacto social. La leishmaniasis laríngea y sin puerta de entrada evidente es rara, en especial en pacientes inmunocompetentes. Describimos un caso de leishmaniasis laríngea con extensión traqueal y estenosis secundaria en un adolescente previamente sano y sin factores de riesgo ambiental o personal.

Leishmaniasis is a growing public health problem and it produces a great social impact. Laryngeal leishmaniasis without obvious gateway is rare; especially in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of laryngeal leishmaniasis with tracheal involvement and stenosis on a previously healthy teenager without environmental or personal risk factors.

[Nasolaryngotracheal mucosal leishmaniasis in an adolescent]. / Leishmaniasis mucosa nasolaringotraqueal en un adolescente.

Leishmaniasis is a growing public health problem and it produces a great social impact. Laryngeal leishmaniasis without obvious gateway is rare; especially in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of laryngeal leishmaniasis with tracheal involvement and stenosis on a previously healthy teenager without environmental or personal risk factors.

Multidetector computed tomography aspects of tracheal mucosal leishmaniasis localization.

Tracheal mucosal localization of Leishmania is considered a rare and dangerous event. A single case of leishmaniasis of the trachea has been described in literature. Our work describes multidetector computed tomography features of leishmaniasis localized in the tracheal mucosa that occurred in a 68-year-old patient who lived in an endemic zone. Our patient underwent biopsy that established the diagnosis of leishmaniasis.

Successful treatment of intratracheal cuterebrosis in two cats.

Two cases of feline intratracheal myiasis due to Cuterebra spp. larvae are reported. Both cats presented with inspiratory dyspnea and a nonproductive cough. One larva was successfully removed during thoracotomy, and the other was removed during bronchoscopy using forceps passed through a bronchoscope operating channel. Clinical signs were alleviated following removal of the larvae.

A case of human orotracheal myiasis caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica.

A case of orotracheal myiasis in an 80-year-old man in coma for 1 week in the intensive care unit of Baskent University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, is reported. A number of larvae of Wohlfahrtia magnifica were recovered repeatedly from the mouth and from the intubation tube of the patient and were reared to adults to facilitate identification. This case history points out the risky of myiasis caused by W. magnifica in the unconscious, debilitated patient.

A fatal case of intrathoracic cuterebriasis in a cat.

A seven-year-old, castrated male domestic shorthair was presented with lethargy, fever, and sneezing. In spite of intensive therapy, the cat's condition progressively worsened to severe dyspnea and death. At necropsy, a single, second instar larval stage of Cuterebra sp. was found in the trachea. This represents an unusual site for Cuterebra migration in an aberrant host. The cause of death was attributed to a combination of local tissue damage and anaphylaxis. Veterinarians should include Cuterebra migration in their differential diagnosis list for dyspnea.

Toxocara canis-induced airway eosinophilia and tracheal hyporeactivity in guinea pigs and mice.

Guinea pigs and mice infected with the parasitic worms Toxocara canis developed airway inflammation and tracheal hyporesponsiveness. Preceding inflammatory cell infiltration a brief hyperreactive response occurred in guinea pigs to histaminergic receptor stimulation at 3 days post infection (p.i.) and in mice to acetylcholine receptor stimulation at 1 day p.i. Few but large eosinophilic inflammatory foci developed in guinea pigs at 14 days p.i. Mice demonstrated progressive multifocal inflammation from 7 days p.i. In addition to eosinophils mouse airways were infiltrated by lymphocytes, forming perivascular and (partial) peribronchial infiltrates in an oedematous submucosa. The inflammation persisted in mice for > or = 3 months and likewise persisted tracheal hyporeactivity. Incubation of tracheae of non-infected mice with pulmonary inflammatory cells caused a significant decrease in cholinergic receptor responsiveness. This downward shift was prevented by 60% when a cyclooxygenase inhibitor was added to the incubation medium but not when inhibitors of lipoxygenase and superoxide formation were added, suggesting the involvement of prostaglandin E2. This suggestion was supported by the finding of significantly increased prostaglandin E2 concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at 14 and 28 days p.i. It was concluded that tracheal hyporeactivity coincided with the presence of large numbers of eosinophils in the airways of both, guinea pigs and mice and that prostaglandin E2 involvement was conceivable.

Trichomoniasis in birds of prey (order Falconiformes) in Bahrain.

Of 5360 falcons examined at the Sulman Falcon Hospital in Bahrain between 1987 and 1993, 1675 (31.2 per cent) had lesions of trichomoniasis. These lesions were commonly found in the oral and nasal cavities, the infraorbital sinuses, the crop and oesophagus and, more rarely, in the coelomic cavity, attached to the wall of the abdominal air sacs, and in the trachea, partially obstructing its lumen. Several therapeutic methods and the results obtained are described.

An unusual nosocomial infection: nasotracheal myiasis.

A number of fly maggots were found emerging from the nose and tracheostomy site of an 82-year-old woman who had been in a coma for two months in an acute care hospital in a large Canadian city. This case history indicates that the infestation was hospital-acquired and although undoubtedly an extremely rare occurrence, at least in Canada, points out the risk of myiasis in the unconscious, debilitated patient.

Respiratory and enteric cryptosporidiosis in humans.

A 24-year-old homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome presented with intractable diarrhea and fever. Examination of a rectal biopsy specimen and stool revealed Cryptosporidium. Approximately 4 months after admission he developed respiratory failure and died. Postmortem examination revealed cryptosporidiosis involving the entire gastrointestinal tract as well as the tracheobronchial tree. To our knowledge, this is one of the rare presented cases of tracheobronchial cryptosporidiosis documented histologically.

Respiratory cryptosporidiosis in chickens.

In order to better characterize spontaneous respiratory cryptosporidiosis in chickens, a retrospective examination of histopathology reports from the Georgia Poultry Laboratories for an 18-mo period (4/1/86 to 9/30/87) was made; 12 cases were found. Collected data were analyzed and certain epidemiologic and histologic features were identified. Eleven of the 12 cases involved broiler type chickens. The ages of chickens with respiratory cryptosporidiosis were evenly distributed between 17 and 52 days of age. The infected birds were always clinically ill. Viruses or bacteria or both often accompanied respiratory Cryptosporidium sp. infections. Histologic lesions (including those of ciliary-adherent bacteria) are described. As the inflammatory response in infected organs became progressively nonpurulent (lymphocytes and plasma cells predominate), numbers of Cryptosporidium diminished. Cytologic preparations were useful for making diagnoses of respiratory cryptosporidiosis in chickens. Identification of epidemiologic features of respiratory cryptosporidiosis, and improved ability to make accurate and prompt diagnoses of Cryptosporidium sp. infection, are vital for a more complete understanding of the impact of this disease on poultry health.