William Hillary and sprue in the Caribbean: 230 years later

ABSTRACT

Parasitic infestation as a cause of diarrhoea and malabsorption is well recognised. It may occur in heavy infestations with hookworm as reported by Sheehy in Puerto Rico and Giardia Lamblia as reported by Professor O'Donovan of Dublin. In hookworm and giardial infestations tissue invasion of the small intestine as been observed occasionally by Stronglyoides stercoralis has much greater potential in this respect. A spru-like syndrome caused by this parasite is not uncommon in the Caribbean islands, particularly in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico (AU)