A case of Diphyllobothrium latum infection

ABSTRACT

Human diphyllobolthriasis is chiefly caused by infection with Diphyllobothrium latum(D. latum) through eating raw or unproperly cooked fish such as salmon, trout or perch. D. latum is worldwidely distributed, but not a common parasite of humans, and its prevalence in Korea is not high. The first worm-proven case of D. latum infection was first reported in 1971 and about 30 cases have been reported in Korea until now. However, with the increasing popularity of eating raw salmon, trout and perch, this tapeworm infection tends to increase in Korea. Most of the patients infected by D. latum have not showed the specific symptoms and only non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms(anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain). We report a case which includes a chain whitish, threadlike tapeworm segments spontaneously discharged in the patients stool. On reviewing the literature, the present case is the first report of D. latum infection by eating cultured salmon. The patient was treated with 600mg single dose of Praziquantel.