As the Worm Turns-A Rare Cause of Intestinal Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Anisakiasis, a zoonotic disease caused by the nematode Anisakis, poses a significant concern for public health, particularly in regions with high consumption of raw or undercooked fish. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case report of a 41-year-old woman who developed severe abdominal symptoms, ultimately diagnosed with intestinal obstruction due to Anisakis infestation, requiring surgery. Despite the absence of prominent eosinophilia or specific radiological findings, the diagnosis was confirmed through histological examination, highlighting the importance of considering anisakiasis in patients with a history of raw seafood consumption. CONCLUSION: The case underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with anisakiasis, emphasizing the need for increased awareness among healthcare professionals and the public regarding the risks of consuming raw or undercooked seafood. Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach, including clinical assessment, imaging studies, and histological evaluation, to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Abdominal complications of ascariasis in childhood.

OBJECTIVE: Complications of ascariasis are a significant cause of abdominal pain in pediatric emergencies, especially where it is endemic. A literature review was conducted with the aim of improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these patients. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed search was conducted using the key terms "ascariasis complications" and "hepatobiliary ascariasis". The search strategy included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, case reports, and reviews published up to December 2023. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: Obstruction of the small bowel is the most common complication. Others that are, rarer and more difficult to properly identify and treat, such as biliary, hepatic, and pancreatic complications, acute appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulitis, or peritoneal granulomas. Hepatic and pancreatic complications are rarer and more serious in children than in adults. While plain radiography is usually the only option in cases of intestinal obstruction, ultrasonography is the examination of choice in cases of hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and appendicular ascariasis complications in childhood. The treatment is clinical and conservative in most patients. Surgical treatment is indicated if conservative therapy fails, or if there are signs of complications. Laparoscopy has been used as an excellent technical alternative in adults with hepatobiliary complications of ascariasis, but further studies on its use in children are still needed. CONCLUSION: The creation of protocols and greater debate on this subject should be encouraged for a better understanding of the disease and to establish an early diagnosis and adequate treatment for children with complications resulting from massive infestation by Ascaris lumbricoides.

Strongyloides, HTLV-1 and small bowel obstruction.

An 81-year-old Jamaican man who has been resident in the UK for many years presented with one week history of generalised abdominal pain, postprandial vomiting, anorexia, weight loss and abdominal distension. He was managed conservatively for acute small bowel obstruction. Investigations revealed a duodenal stricture. Live Strongyloides stercoralis larvae were observed in stool samples and duodenal biopsy confirmed the presence of the parasite at multiple life cycle stages within the lamina propria. He was diagnosed with Strongyloides hyperinfection with underlying human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and treated with a prolonged course of ivermectin with ongoing monitoring for relapse. This case demonstrates a rare but potentially fatal cause of small bowel obstruction.

A case of small bowel obstruction due to infection with Bolbosoma sp. (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae).

A case of small bowel obstruction caused by Bolbosoma sp. infection is reported. A 27-year-old woman admitted with abdominal pain was diagnosed as small bowel obstruction. Laparoscopic surgery revealed induration in jejunum at ca. 120 cm distal to the ligament of Treiz, attributed to a band connecting the serosa to the ascending mesocolon. Resected band contained an acanthocephalan accompanying foreign body reaction with abscess formation. The parasite belonged to the genus Bolbosoma, of which identification was made by DNA sequence analysis. This is the eighth case of Bolbosoma infection in humans, and the first one causing an ileus.

Anisakiasis: The risks of seafood consumption.

CONTEXT AND AIMS: Japanese cuisine is now popular worldwide, and consumption of raw fish has thus increased at sushi bars and Japanese restaurants outside Japan. Anisakiasis, also known as herring-worm disease, is caused by ingesting larval nematodes in raw seafood and is a common illness in Japan. However, due to the rising popularity of Japanese food, gastroenterologists outside Japan need to be familiar with this disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS AND RESULTS: We treated 158 patients presenting with acute gastrointestinal manifestations caused by anisakiasis from April 1991 to April 2000. One or more nematodes were removed endoscopically within 48 h of presentation in 44% of these patients, which resulted in prompt resolution of symptoms. Major endoscopic findings were gastric ulcer accompanied by hemorrhage, erosion, redness, and edema of the gastric mucosa in areas penetrated by larvae and other areas. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy was valuable for the diagnosis and treatment of anisakiasis. We recommend endoscopy in suspected cases of anisakiasis. Moreover, it is desirable to combine complementary tests such as immunological tests/IgE measurement. As the popularity of Japanese cuisine increases, reports of anisakiasis are likely to be more frequent in countries other than Japan.

Sub-acute intestinal obstruction - a rare complication of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in an adult: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a major public health problem in most tropical countries. It occasionally presents with both typical and atypical signs and symptoms. Gastrointestinal manifestations are common in malaria endemic areas but intestinal obstruction as a complication is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 42-year-old black African man who presented with signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction and was diagnosed as having Plasmodium falciparum malaria. He was successfully treated with both parenteral and orally administered antimalarial medication and the intestinal obstruction subsequently resolved. CONCLUSION: With intestinal obstruction being an important cause of morbidity and mortality, we report this case to highlight this rare complication of malaria and therefore increase physicians' awareness and prompt diagnosis and management.

The Turning Point for Morphomechanical Remodeling During Complete Intestinal Obstruction in Rats Occurs After 12-24 h.

Intestinal obstruction prompts luminal dilation and wall remodeling proximal to the site of obstruction. Studies on temporal and spatial morphomechanical remodeling are needed for comprehending the pathophysiology of acute intestinal obstruction. The aim was to estimate the no-load and zero-stress morphomechanical properties in circumferential and longitudinal direction at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after complete intestinal obstruction. Obstruction of the distal ileum was created surgically by placement of a polyethylene ring for up to 48 h in 30 rats. Sham and normal groups were also studied (n = 12). Five 6 cm-long intestinal segments proximal to the obstruction site were used for histological, morphometric and mechanical analysis at the designated times. Morphomechanical changes were huge but only subtle changes were observed between the 5 segments during the obstruction period. Due to dilation, the serosal length and mucosal length increased continuously from 6 to 48 h (p < 0.001). The wall area increased at 24 h and beyond (p < 0.001), demonstrating tissue growth. The opening and bending angle decreased to minimum values at 24 h where after the opening angle increased and the bending angle returned to pre-obstruction levels. For the residual stretch ratios and the position of the neutral axis the turning point was found after 24 h. Histologically, the thickness and area of most wall layers were quite stable for the first 12 h but with an increase at the 24 h time point that continued to the 48 h time point. The most pronounced change was found for the circumferential muscle layer (p < 0.05). Analysis of picrosirius red stained slides showed that submucosal type 3 collagen fraction increased significantly (p < 0.001), whereas the fraction of type 1 collagen decreased (p < 0.001). In conclusion, pronounced time-dependent morphomechanical remodeling was found. The obstructed intestine went from dilation remodeling to growth remodeling during the interval 12-24 h after creating the obstruction.

Colorectal cancer in a patient with intestinal schistosomiasis: a case report from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center Northern Zone Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer associated with chronic intestinal schistosomiasis has been linked with the chronic inflammation as a result of schistosomal ova deposition in the submucosal layer of the intestine. Among all species Schistosoma japonicum has been more linked to development of colorectal cancer as compared to Schistosoma mansoni due to absence of population-based studies to support the association. Despite the weak evidence, some cases have been reported associating S. mansoni with development of colorectal cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a patient who presented to us as a case of intestinal obstruction and found to have a constrictive lesion at the sigmoid colon at laparotomy, then later found to have colorectal cancer with deposited S. mansoni ova at histology. CONCLUSION: Given the known late complications of schistosomiasis, and as S. mansoni is endemic in some parts of Tanzania, epidemiological studies are recommended to shed more light on its association with colorectal cancer.

An Italian case of intestinal anisakiasis with a presurgical diagnosis: Could this parasite represent an emerging disease?

Anisakiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the consumption of raw fish containing larvae of the Anisakis species. Since the first description in 1960 of a patient suffering from this pathogen, in the Netherlands, most of the cases have been reported in Japan, where consumption of raw fish is common, but the number of cases is increasing worldwide. The first case identified in Italy dates back to 1996 and a few cases have been reported since then. In Italy the intestinal form occurs almost as frequently as the gastric form, which is far more frequent in Japan. Intestinal Anisakiasis represents a diagnostic challenge as it is clinically misdiagnosed and most of the patients require surgery due to the occurrence of complications such as bowel occlusion or perforation. Practically no cases of the intestinal form are diagnosed preoperatively. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of intestinal Anisakiasis in which surgery was avoided, due to a prompt diagnosis suspected on intestinal biopsies. A literature review of Anisakiasis cases reported in Italy is also carried out.

A Case of Chaunocephalosis by Chaunocephalus ferox (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) in an Oriental White Stork, Ciconia boyciana, in Korea.

We intended to describe a case of chaunocephalosis and morphological characteristics of its causative agent, Chaunocephalus ferox, recovered from an oriental white stork, Ciconia boyciana, in the Republic of Korea. An oriental white stork was referred to the Wildlife Center of Chungbuk in Korea in February 2014 for severe depression with cachexia and it died the next day. At necropsy, the stomach was severely expanded and 7 thick-walled nodules were observed in the upper part of the intestine. Although the stomach was filled with full of foreign materials, the intestine was almost empty. The nodules were globular and total 9 flukes were recovered. They were 8,030-8,091 µm in length and 3,318-3,333 µm in maximum width. Because the flukes had bulbous forebody with short narrow subcylindrical hindbody, 27 collar spines, and vitelline follicles not reaching to the posterior end, the specimens were identified as being C. ferox. The cyst formation induced thickening of the intestinal wall with narrowing of the lumen that could have contributed to the gastric impaction to the death of the host. This is the first described case of chaunocephalosis and its causative agent C. ferox found from an oriental white stork in Korea.

[Volvulus of the small bowel due to ascaris lumbricoides package: about a case]. / Volvulus du grêle sur paquet d'ascaris: à propos d'un cas.

We report an exceptional case of a 7 year-old patient with necrotic small bowel volvulus due to adult ascaris lumbricoides. At the admission, the child had intestinal obstruction evolving since two days with alteration of general state. Abdominal radiography without preparation showed small bowel air-fluid levels and tiger-stripe appearance evoking the diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction associated with abdominal mass. After resuscitation, the surgical treatment consisted of laparotomy which showed necrotic volvulus of the terminal ileum containing adult ascaris lumbricoides. The patient underwent small bowel resection, approximately one meter of affected section was removed and then an ileostomy was performed. The evolution was favorable. The patient underwent ileorectal anastomosis four weeks later. After a 2 year follow-up period the child had no symptoms.

Obstrucción intestinal por Ascaris lumbricoides en un adulto mayor / Intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides infection in a geriatric patient

Ascaris lumbricoides is considered the largest intestinal nematode with a higher incidence in the childhood, representing a truly medical and public health problem, principally in undeveloped countries. We present the case of an 83 year old man, born and coming from the amazon region, without any relevant previous history of disease, admitted in the emergency department of our hospital for presenting intestinal obstruction and also presumptive biliary obstruction due to multiple balls of parasites, requiring immediate surgical intervention. We emphasize the need of consider this etiologic possibility in the differential diagnosis, that in this particular case, wasn't suspected in the first place.

Ascaris lumbricoides es considerado el nemátodo intestinal de mayor tamaño. Se presenta con mayor frecuencia en la infancia, representando un verdadero problema médico y de salud pública, especialmente en países en vías de desarrollo. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 83 años, natural y procedente de la región amazónica del Perú, sin antecedentes médicos de relevancia, que ingresa a Servicio de urgencias de nuestro hospital por un cuadro de obstrucción intestinal y presunta obstrucción biliar, requiriendo una intervención quirúrgica inmediata. El diagnóstico final de obstrucción intestinal por la presencia de múltiples ovillos de Ascaris lumbricoides, no fue considerado dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales previo al acto quirúrgico.

Identification of Heterobilharzia americana infection in a dog residing in Indiana with no history of travel.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1-year-old castrated male dog residing in Indiana was examined because of intermittent vomiting of 4 months' duration. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog's condition did not resolve with medication. Diagnostic imaging revealed a possible partial obstruction at the ileocecal junction. An exploratory laparotomy was performed. The jejunum contained diffusely distributed, nodular, intramural lesions; 2 biopsy specimens were collected from representative lesions. The pancreas was grossly swollen, and pancreatitis was presumed present. No other abnormalities were observed in the abdomen. Histologic examination of the submitted biopsy specimens revealed infection with Heterobilharzia americana. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: After diagnosis, the dog was treated with fenbendazole suspension (48 mg/kg [21.8 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) for 10 days. This treatment was subsequently repeated 11 and 80 days later. One week after the end of the last fenbendazole treatment, several H americana eggs were detected in a fecal sample via saline sedimentation, and the dog was given praziquantel (25 mg/kg [11.4 mg/lb], PO, q 8 h) for 2 days. No gastrointestinal signs were evident 4 months after that treatment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The dog described in this report was the first autochthonous canine case of H americana infection in Indiana, to the authors' knowledge; this case has confirmed that the distribution of this parasite in the Midwestern United States is broader than previously known. Increased awareness of the distribution of H americana should aid veterinarians in early, noninvasive diagnosis and appropriate treatment of affected animals. Repeated treatments and recheck fecal examinations may be necessary when managing these cases.

[Small bowel obstruction secondary to massive hookworm infestation complicated by fatal plurimicrobial bacteriemia]. / Occlusion iléale par infestation massive par des ankylostomes responsable d'une septicémie plurimicrobienne d'évolution fatale.

INTRODUCTION: Intestinal symptoms (cramping, flatulence) and iron deficient anemia are classical presenting manifestations of duodenal hookworm infestation in patients living in endemic area. CASE REPORT: We report a 45-year-old immunocompetent metropolitan man who presented with intestinal obstruction secondary to massive hookworm infestation complicated by fatal plurimicrobial bacteriemia with refractory septic shock. CONCLUSION: We report a case of acute surgical abdominal presentation with septicemia and refractory shock syndrome due to ileal translocation secondary to massive hookworm infestation. To the best of our knowledge, such a case has not yet been reported.

[Intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides infection in a geriatric patient]. / Obstrucción intestinal por Ascaris lumbricoides en un adulto mayor.

Ascaris lumbricoides is considered the largest intestinal nematode with a higher incidence in the childhood, representing a truly medical and public health problem, principally in undeveloped countries. We present the case of an 83 year old man, born and coming from the amazon region, without any relevant previous history of disease, admitted in the emergency department of our hospital for presenting intestinal obstruction and also presumptive biliary obstruction due to multiple balls of parasites, requiring immediate surgical intervention. We emphasize the need of consider this etiologic possibility in the differential diagnosis, that in this particular case, wasn't suspected in the first place.

Enterobius Vermicularis as a Cause of Intestinal Occlusion: How To Avoid Unnecessary Surgery.

Enterobius vermicularis may cause infections of the gastrointestinal tract and occurs approximately in 4% to 28% of children worldwide. It is most common in children aged 5 to 14 years.The most commonly reported symptoms are pruritus in the perianal region, abdominal pain, urinary tract infection, insomnia, irritability, salpingitis, and appendicitis, whereas intestinal obstruction is a very rare but would be considered to perform the right instrumental examination avoiding unnecessary surgical exploration.We report a case of an 8-year-old boy with an intestinal occlusion due to a colonic intussusception by Enterobius vermicularis managed conservatively.