A rare primary location of echinococcal disease: report of a case.

A case of primary hydatid disease, a rare location, is presented. The patient was a 20 year old female who presented with complaining of painful mass in the right hypochondrium 2 months before presantation. This cyst was strongly adherent to the two layers of m.rectus abdominis fascias. It was completely removed. No other site of hydatid disease was found and the patient remained well postoperatively.

Evidence of Onchocerca fasciata (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) in camels (Camelus dromedarius): I-prevalence, nodular lesions appearance and parasite morphology.

Examination of 3376 imported and 200 local Egyptian camels was carried out during the period extending between September 1997 and August, 1998. These animals were carefully examined for the presence of Onchocerca fasciata nodules and subsequently for O. fasciata adult parasites. Results of this study revealed that imported camels had the higher infection rate (2.75%), while those of local origin showed no palpable or detected Onchocerca nodules. Distribution of these nodules was mainly on the two sides of abdomen, hind limbs (concentrated in thigh region) and fore limbs particularly on the shoulders and nuchal ligament. This distribution varied according to the degree of infection. Searches for microfilariae were also performed using either blood samples, or in the subcutis and fascial sheath near or around the detected nodules.

Dirofilaria repens presenting as a premasseteric nodule.

Dirofilariasis is a rare zoonosis that is mainly seen with subcutaneous or pulmonary involvement. Natural hosts are dogs, cats, jackals, and raccoons; however, humans can rarely become an accidental host for the parasite. In the reported case, infection manifested as a subcutaneous nodule, representing a significant diagnostic challenge for both the surgeon and the pathologist. A case of a 62-year-old man with a premasseteric soft tissue mass caused by Dirofilaria repens is presented with histopathologic confirmation.

Comparative ultrastructural studies on Besnoitia besnoiti and Besnoitia caprae.

Comparative transmission electron microscopy on Besnoitia besnoiti and on a strain of Besnoitia derived from goats in Kenya revealed that the two organisms differ in their pellicle, micropore, microtubules, nucleus, wall-forming body 1 (W1), amount of lipids and amylopectin. Thus the caprine besnoitia is probably a different organism and the term Besnoitia caprae should continue to be used.

Ultrasound diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.

There is currently no objective reliable diagnostic test for plantar fasciitis inasmuch as diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of finding a heel spur on radiography (x-ray). In this single-blind observational study, ultrasonography was used to measure plantar fascia thickness in subjects with clinically suspected plantar fasciitis and in control subjects. It was concluded that the population mean plantar fascia thickness is greater for people with plantar fasciitis than for people without heel pain (P < .0005) and that the difference is clinically significant. The ultrasonic appearance of the plantar fascia in plantar fasciitis indicated inflammatory changes.