The first records of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae), a causative agent of human sparganosis, in Latvian wildlife.

Diphyllobothriid tapeworms of the genus Spirometra are causative agents of sparganosis, food-borne zoonotic parasitic disease. They have been recorded in broad spectrum of hosts, including humans, in all continents except Antarctica. Spirometra tapeworms have been intensively studied in several Asian countries; however, they have been rather neglected in Europe. The aim of this study was to provide a pilot screening of Spirometra spp. in Latvia, where data on sparganosis are not available. Tapeworms morphologically identified as diphyllobothriid species were isolated from grey wolves Canis lupus and Eurasian lynxes Lynx lynx from Latvia during the hunting periods 2013-2019. The parasites were subjected to molecular genotyping using sequences of the partial large (LSU rDNA; 615 bp) and small (SSU rDNA; 720 bp) subunits of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene and complete (1566 bp) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of the mitochondrial DNA (cox1 mtDNA). Analyses of both ribosomal subunits of 13 tapeworms revealed no intraspecific variation within the respective rDNA subunits. On the other hand, sequence analysis of mitochondrial cox1 revealed intraspecific polymorphism displayed by 12 cox1 haplotypes. Comparison of the current data with sequences of the corresponding DNA regions deposited in the GenBank revealed 99.3-99.5% (LSU rDNA), 99.2% (SSU rDNA) and 99.6-100% (cox1 mtDNA) identity of studied tapeworms with Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, which provided the first confirmation of this diphyllobothriid tapeworm in Latvia. Since S. erinaceieuropaei is probably prevalent in Latvian wildlife and may also occur in other potential host species, further studies are needed in order to acquire complex data on its geographic distribution and transmission in the natural environment of Latvia, as well as on the spectrum of its intermediate, paratenic, and definitive hosts.

A Retrieved Sparganum of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei from a Korean Man during Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Human sparganosis is a zoonotic disease caused by infection and migration of the plerocercoid of Spirometra spp. Although sparganosis were reported from most parts of the body, the sparganum parasitizing inside cerebral artery is remarkably uncommon. We report a case of cerebral intravascular sparganosis in an elderly patient with acute ischemic stroke who was diagnosed by retrieving sparganum during mechanical thrombectomy. Finally, the parasites were identified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei using multiplex PCR and cox1 gene sequencing.

The phylogenetic diversity of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei isolates from southwest China revealed by multi genes.

The larval plerocercoid of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei can parasitize humans, causing a serious food borne parasitic zoonosis known as sparganosis. Sparganosis have increased in China in recent years. In this study, the prevalence of sparganum infection in wild frogs in 9 geographical areas in southwest China was firstly investigated. Of 276 caught frogs, 55 frogs were found to be infected with sparganum. Then, the population genetic structure of these sparganum isolates was explored based on four molecular markers (cytb, cox1, rrnS and 28S rDNA D1). Highly genetic diversity and the genetic differentiation among sparganum isolates from different sites were revealed in the DNA polymorphism analyses. Both the phylogenetic inference and the analysis of the median-joining network supported two clades in the southwest S. erinaceieuropaei population. However, none demographic population expansion of the southwest S. erinaceieuropaei population was observed in the neutrality test, mismatch distribution analysis and Bayesian skyline plot analysis. Finally, the phylogenetic diversity of S. erinaceieuropaei from eastern, central, southern and southwest China was analyzed, the result suggested that Chinese S. erinaceieuropaei population should be divided into two groups (Group I and Group II), and they started to divergence in the middle Pliocene.

[Investigation on prevalence of Spirometra mansoni sparganum infection in frogs from Henan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence of Spirometra mansoni sparganum infection in frogs from Henan Province and analyze the risk of people suffering from sparganum infection. METHODS: The spargana were examined in the muscle of frogs collected from 12 sites of 5 regions in Henan Province, and the amount of spargana and their location were recorded. RESULTS: The natural infection rate of Spirometra mansoni spargana in frogs was 26.63% (306/1 149). There were totally 1 897 spargana found in those frogs, and the average was 6.2 per frog. The infection rate of pond frogs was higher than that of toad, the difference was statically significant (chi2 = 30.42, P < 0.01). The natural infection rate of pond frogs in the nearby patients' residence was higher than that of pond frogs collected from the other sites, and the natural infection rate of frogs was lower in the west region of Henan than that in the other areas. The muscles of hind legs of the frogs was the most common parasitic location compared with other parts of the frogs, and the ratio was 73.74% (1 365/1 851). CONCLUSION: The frogs living in the nature are widely infected with Spirometra mansoni spargana in Henan Province, and the comprehensive measures should be taken for the prevention and control of sparganosis mansoni.

Pentastomiasis and other parasitic zoonoses from reptiles and amphibians.

Reptiles are growing in popularity as pets.The colonization of reptiles and amphibians by parasites and the resulting disease conditions are the most common problems seen in captive animals.This review focuses on pentastomiasis and sparganosis, important parasitic zoonoses of reptiles and amphibians, respectively, and free living-amoebae. Humans are suitable accidental hosts for some pentastomid species (particularly Armillifer and Porocephalus). In geographical areas with special ethnics, such as in West and Central Africa, and East Asia, 8-45% of the human population can be affected. Usually the larvae are coincidentally found during abdominal surgeries. However, fatalities have been described. Extreme caution is necessary when handling infected reptiles. Ocular or cerebral sparganosis is not uncommonly found in humans in East Asia. This disease is caused by spargana, tapeworm larvae (plerocercoids) of Spirometra sp. The infection occurs when uncooked meat from reptiles or amphibians is applied to wounds or eyes and the parasites migrate directly to human tissue, or by consumption of contaminated food or water. As a consequence of the reptile's predatory behaviour, the full spectrum of endo- and ectoparasites from potential prey animals can be found as transiting parasites in the intestinal tract, e. g. Hymenolepis nana, Cryptosporidium (C.) muris, C parvum or Capillaria hepatica. Occasionally, free-living amoebae are also found in reptile faeces (Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, Hartmanella, Vahlkampfia or Echinamoeba sp.).

Human sparganosis in Thailand: an overview.

Human sparganosis is caused by cestode larvae (spargana) of the genus Spirometra, which exploit copepods as the first intermediate host. A wide range of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals serve as second intermediate/paratenic hosts. Human infections occur mainly by ingesting raw intermediate/paratenic hosts. Cases are found mainly in China, Japan and Korea, and sporadically also in Thailand and other Asian countries. In the period 1943-2010, there were 52 reported cases of sparganosis in Thailand. The average patient age was 32 years (range 11-82 years). From the available patient information, the prevalence of sparganosis infection was higher among females than males, at a ratio of F:M=2:1 (27:15). Patients have mainly been found in the northeast, north, and central regions of Thailand, with only a few in the south. Although a single subcutaneous nodular lesion was the most common feature, about one third of patients had ocular lesions. In particular, patients having ocular lesions were about half of total cases reported pre-1990, with several confirmed cases' applying fresh frog muscle as a poultice to relieve sore eyes, according to traditional medicine. In Thailand, sparganosis is not merely a food-borne disease but is also caused by the traditional belief of applying frog muscles (contaminated with sparganum) to sore eyes.

Severe infection of wild-caught snakes with Spirometra erinaceieuropaei from food markets in Guangzhou, China involves a risk for zoonotic sparganosis.

Wild-caught snakes are a popular and traditional food in China. However, little known to the public, snakes are also intermediate hosts of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, a food- and water-borne pathogen of sparganosis. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of S. erinaceieuropaei in 10 popular species of wild-caught snakes in Guangzhou City (Guangdong Province) between July 2009 and July 2010. One hundred and twenty-four specimens of 10 species (including Enhydris plumbea, Zoacys dhumnades, Elaphe radiate, Elaphe taeniura, Elaphe carinata, Ptyas mucosus, Ptyas korros, Naja naja atra, Bungarus fasciatus, and Bungarus multicinctus) were randomly selected from a total of 1,160 wild-caught snakes. They were obtained from food markets in 5 representative districts (Huadou, Panyu, Tianhe, Haizhu, and Conghua). The specimens were killed, necropsied, and examined for parasitic helminths. Of the snakes examined, 29.8% were infected by spargana and the worm burden per infected snake ranged from 1 to 221. Most species were infected except for En. plumbea, B. fasciatus, and B. multicinctus. Prevalence even reached 100% in Zoacys dhumnades. More than half (53.5%) of the spargana were located in muscular tissue, 36.4% in subcutaneous tissue, and 10.1% in the coelomic cavity. The study revealed the potential risk for the zoonotic sparganosis by eating wild-caught snakes and will be helpful in arousing public health concern about the consumption of snake meat.

Severe sparganosis in Australian tree frogs.

Spargana of Spirometra erinacei infect many vertebrate species, but severe disease from sparganosis has been reported from few host species. Information on the effects of this common, introduced tapeworm of cats on Australian frogs is lacking. Our survey to detect significant diseases in free-ranging amphibians in eastern Australia between 1993 and 2000 revealed that infection with spargana (plerocercoids) of S. erinacei occurred in 12/243 (4.9%) sick frogs. Infections occurred in skeletal muscle and subcutis, especially the thighs, of large adults of Litoria caerulea, Litoria aurea, Litoria gracilenta, and Litoria peronii. Three frogs were also infected in the coelomic cavity. Heavy burdens in seven frogs were associated with poor body condition and debilitating lesions, whereas lighter infections in five sick frogs were considered likely to be incidental to other diseases. In severe infections, a large proportion of thigh muscle was replaced with spargana and various amounts of fibrosis, and some frogs also had myonecrosis, granulomatous inflammation, hemorrhage, and skin ulceration. Concurrent infections were common. Our findings suggest sparganosis is one of a few currently recognized serious diseases affecting free-ranging frogs in Australia.

First reports of subcutaneous sparganosis in Sri Lanka.

OBJECTIVE: To report and create awareness of sparganosis, a parasitic zoonosis caused by a larval stage of Spirometra sp. SETTING: Two patients with non-tender subcutaneous lumps. DIAGNOSIS CRITERIA: Morphology of solid cestode larva in excision biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Although these two instances were innocuous, infection is potentially dangerous as larvae are long lived and could invade vital organs. The most likely source of infection in Sri Lanka is ingestion of the infected first intermediate host, Cyclops, in water.

Cerebral sparganosis in a child.

Cerebral sparganosis in childhood is very rare. Until 1996, 2 cases in children up to 15 years of age had been described. We report a case of cerebral sparganosis in a 6-year-old girl who presented with seizures. Sequential brain magnetic resonance imaging scans spaced over 4 months showed a lesion which migrated from the right parieto-occipital region to the right occipital region. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antisparganum antibody was positive. She most likely contracted sparganosis from worm-infested spring-water. A live worm with surrounding granulomatous tissue was removed, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antisparganum antibody converted to negative 12 months following surgery. In areas of endemic sparganosis, the possibility of cerebral sparganosis should be considered, even in a child, if the patient shows a migrating granulomatous lesion.

Spargana infection of frogs in Malaysia.

Frogs caught from two States (Selangor and Langkawi) in Malaysia were examined for spargana of Spirometra sp. Infected frogs usually show no marks of infection but some had swelling and bleeding at the infection site. The size and weight of the infected frogs did not correlate with the infection status. The infection status in relation to human health is discussed.

Abdominal sparganosis in Ecuador: a case report.

Sparganosis, infection with plerocercoids of the pseudophyllidean tapeworm Spirometra, rarely has been described in Ecuador. We report the details of a human case of sparganosis identified serendipitously in the course of an abdominal hernia repair. The parasite was found moving freely upon the external oblique fascia adjacent to the site of a direct abdominal hernia. The organism was recovered intact, photographed while alive and preserved for subsequent detailed morphological studies. The presumed route of entry into this patient was percutaneous, after application of a poultice of snake flesh to the site of a painful abdominal hernia. The literature on sparganosis in South America is reviewed. This is the second case of human sparganosis reported from Ecuador.

[Human sparganosis. Report of a probable 7th case in South America and review of the subject]. / Sparganose humaine. Présentation du probable septième cas en Amérique du Sud et révision du sujet

A case of human Sparganosis was found in a resident of Northern Argentina, Pozo del Tigre, Province of Formosa, a zone bordering with the Republic of Paraguay, with a histopathologic diagnosis realized in the Pathologic Anatomy Institute of Asunción. In the Republic of Paraguay Dyphyllobrotium has been observed in cats, which reveals the existence of intermediaries (rats, water snakes, birds, etc.) as sources of human infection. Northern Argentina, where the patient always lived, is a geographic zone similar to the Republic of Paraguay. This case is the first described in the inland zone of the continent (and probably the seventh case in the Southamerican continent). The patient's profession, called "tropero" (cowherd), required that he had close contact with the land or a habitual exposure to nature, which does not exclude the probability of infection related to the patient's professional habitat.