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Mil Med 2020 Mar;185(3-4):e510-e512

Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN, NAS Lemoore, Building 30 Sky Train Avenue, Lemoore, CA 93245.

Diphyllobothrium, also known as the "Broad Tapeworm" or "Fish Tapeworm," is a genus of Cestoda acquired through the consumption of undercooked fish. Although infection by a Diphyllobothrium spp. in the United States is rare, it remains an important global zoonosis, with an estimated burden of approximately 20 million people worldwide. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Apr 26;136:341-347. Epub 2020 Jan 26.

Department of Radiology, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Spinal sparganosis associated with filum terminale arteriovenous fistula (FTAVF) has not been reported in the literature. In previous studies, these 2 rare diseases were usually reported separately. We report the first case of spinal sparganosis with concomitant FTAVF. Read More

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2020 Jan 23. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

QJM 2020 Jan 11. Epub 2020 Jan 11.

Department of Pediatrics, Yaizu City Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.

Korean J Parasitol 2019 12 31;57(6):613-619. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

University of Bourgogne Franche-Comte, CNRS UMR 6249 Chrono-environment, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besancon cedex, France.

Paleoparasitological analysis was carried on 4 Merovingian skeletons, dated from the late-5th to the late-9th centuries, and recovered in the church of Saint-Martin-au-Val in Chartres (Center region, France). The corpses were buried in stone sarcophagi, which were still sealed at the time of excavation. Parasite marker extraction was conducted on sediment samples taken from the abdominal and pelvic regions, but also on samples taken from under the head and the feet as control samples. Read More

Parasitol Res 2020 Feb 17;119(2):513-518. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, EA 7292, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, F-67000, Strasbourg, France.

Diphyllobothriasis is a parasitic fish-borne disease caused by tapeworms of the genus Dibothriocephalus (=Diphyllobothrium). The majority of reported cases are attributed to D. latum, based on morphological identification of eggs or proglottids. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2019 Oct 31;57(5):513-516. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea.

Human sparganosis is a food-borne zoonosis mainly caused by the plerocercoid belonging to the genus Spirometra. The most common clinical sign of sparganosis is a subcutaneous mass in the trunk including abdominal or chest wall. The mass may be mistaken for a malignant tumor, thereby causing difficulty in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2019 11;25(11):2156-2158

Diphyllobothriosis is a reemerging zoonotic disease because of global trade and increased popularity of eating raw fish. We present molecular evidence of host switching of a human-infecting broad fish tapeworm, Dibothriocephalus latus, and use of salmonids as intermediate or paratenic hosts and thus a source of human infection in South America. Read More

Lancet 2019 10;394(10205):1264

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Centre General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019 11;101(5):1170-1173

University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Human sparganosis is a cestode infection which is neglected as a differential diagnosis outside endemic countries. Diagnosis and therapy may be challenging depending on the clinical presentation and anatomic localization. The disease manifests predominantly as subcutaneous nodule(s) or intracranial mass lesion(s). Read More

J Travel Med 2020 Feb;27(1)

Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Programa de salut internacional de l'Institut Català de la Salut (PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2019 09 9;17(9):677-679. Epub 2019 Sep 9.

Department of Parasitology, Université Rennes, CHU Rennes, Irset, Inserm, EHESP , Rennes , France.

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Aug 27;19(1):748. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Background: Sparganosis, a rare and severe parasitic infection caused by the larvae of Spirometra species or simply sparganum, generally involves subcutaneous tissue or muscle. But occasionally, sparganum can also invade the human brain, resulting in cerebral sparganosis.

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old woman presented with a 10-day history of headache. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019 11;101(5):1174-1176

Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

A 50-year-old Chinese woman with a history of weakness and paroxysmal seizures of the left limb presented to our hospital with a ten-day history of neck pain. Imaging showed that there was a mass in the frontal lobe of her brain. On resection of the mass, a motile worm was identified. Read More

Breast J 2019 09 11;25(5):1006-1007. Epub 2019 Jun 11.

Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Acta Parasitol 2019 Sep 5;64(3):544-550. Epub 2019 Jun 5.

Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia.

Introduction: A piscivorous fish European perch (Perca fluviatilis) is present in all types of lakes and brackish waters in Poland. Previous ichthyoparasitological surveys revealed broad spectrum of endohelminths in perch from different aquatic environments. Among them, detection of Diphyllobothrium sp. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 May 29;19(1):105. Epub 2019 May 29.

Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, No. 95th Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.

Background: Sparganosis mansoni is a parasitic disease caused by infection with the larvae of Spirometra spp. tapeworms. Its clinical manifestations and severity depend on the migration and the location of the parasites. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2019 May 28;12(1):267. Epub 2019 May 28.

Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé Environnement Travail), UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France.

Background: Diphyllobothriosis is an intestinal cestodosis caused by tapeworms of the family Diphyllobothriidae. In France, endemic cases are limited to south-east and due to Dibothriocephalus latus. In this paper, we investigate a series of seven cases of diphyllobothriosis in the non-endemic French region of Brittany. Read More

Lancet Infect Dis 2019 06;19(6):577-578

The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China. Electronic address:

Korean J Parasitol 2019 Apr 30;57(2):179-184. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Department of Surgery, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea.

Sparganosis is a parasitic infestation caused by sparganum, a plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. Since the first case of human sparganosis reported in 1908, sparganosis has been a global disease, and is common in China, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries. Consumption of raw snakes, frogs, fish, or drinking contaminated beverages are sources of human infections. Read More

Breast J 2019 07 12;25(4):712-715. Epub 2019 May 12.

The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, HengYang, China.

The authors report the case of a 56-year-old woman with mammary sparganosis due to infection with a plerocercoid tapeworm larva of Spirometra mansoni. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an area of heterogeneous density in outer upper quadrant of the right breast, with a high likelihood of malignancy. During surgery for the removal of a granuloma, the parasite was discovered and excised. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 May 5;12(5). Epub 2019 May 5.

Surgical Department, Caboolture Hospital, Caboolture, Queensland, Australia.

Sparganosis is a rare zoonotic parasitosis that is sporadically reported worldwide. In Australia, the causative tapeworms are considered endemic in wildlife animals, however, there have been only five reported human infections. We present three additional cases of sparganosis, involving two Australian born gentlemen who have never travelled overseas and a woman who emigrated from Ethiopia. Read More

Lancet Infect Dis 2019 05;19(5):465

ParaHealth Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot-Valencia, Spain. Electronic address:

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2018 12 6;14:161-169. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Laboratorio de Parasitología, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), (8400) Av. Quintral 1250, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina. Electronic address:

Diphyllobothriidea are the principal agents of Diphyllobothriosis, a widespread food-borne cestodosis. Accurate identification of the species in samples is therefore crucial for diagnosis and epidemiology in wild and domestic animals, and also humans. We aim to identify at specific level the causative agent, and provide an observational, descriptive, and transversal study of the epidemiology of this zoonosis in urban dogs. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2019 Apr;41(4):311

Division of Dermatology, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL.

Parasitology 2019 06 12;146(7):947-955. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Parasitology,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University,Zhengzhou 450052,People's Republic of China.

The plerocercoid (sparganum) of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei is the main aetiological agent of human sparganosis. To improve the current knowledge on S. erinaceieuropaei evolution, we performed multi-locus microsatellite typing of sparganum isolates from China for the first time. Read More

Parasitol Res 2019 May 7;118(5):1653-1656. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 121 Jiangjiayuan Road, Nanjing, 210011, China.

Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the metacestode stage of Spirometra mansoni and some other related diphyllobothriidean cestodes. Although various internal organs were involved in sparganum infection, pulmonary and pleural involvement is rarely reported. We herein report an uncommon form of sparganosis manifested by pleuritis and decreased peripheral blood eosinophils. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2019 Feb 26;57(1):77-78. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Molecular Parasitology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, Korea.

Neurology 2019 03;92(10):e1143-e1144

From the Departments of Neurology (Z.Y.) and Neurosurgery (M.Z.), Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, China.

Parasitol Int 2019 06 19;70:89-91. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019 03;100(3):700-702

Department of General Internal Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.

Praziquantel is widely used for treating parasitic infections globally, especially in countries with endemic schistosomiasis. However, severe hypersensitivity to praziquantel has rarely been reported. We report the case of a 30-year-old Japanese man who developed acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), which is a rare and severe cutaneous reaction usually triggered by drugs, after taking praziquantel. Read More

J Radiol Case Rep 2018 Aug 31;12(8):1-11. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Department of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Hospital, Singapore.

The tunnel sign has been described as a specific feature of cerebral sparganosis. We present a case of a 55-year-old gentleman found to have cerebral melioidosis and with initial imaging mimicking the appearance of sparganosis. This suggests that the tunnel sign in brain abscesses may be specific for infection by Burkholderia Pseudomallei, Spirometra Mansoni or Listeria Monocytogenes. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 01 14;13(1):e0007018. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Background: Cerebral sparganosis is the most serious complication of human sparganosis. Currently, there is no standard for the treatment of inoperable patients. Conventional-dose praziquantel therapy is the most reported treatment. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2018 Oct;30(5):537-539

Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, China.

Objective: To establish an animal model of (plerocercoid larva of ) infection in mice and observe the changes of blood routine examinations and serum anti-sparganum antibody levels after the infection.

Methods: The spargana tapeworms were collected from frogs, and 25 Kunming mice were orally infected with the tapeworms (3 tapeworms/mouse). Two days before the infection and 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 days and 49 days after the infection, the peripheral blood samples of mice were collected for the blood routine examinations and the detections of anti- IgG antibody with ELISA. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2018 Oct 21;33(44):e273. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Department of Molecular Parasitology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.

Background: Sparganosis is a larval cestodiasis caused by the plerocercoid of spp. Since the first description of human sparganosis in 1924, several hundred cases have been reported in Korea. However, systematic approaches for literature surveys of Korean sparganosis have seldom appeared. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 10 22;12(10):e0006918. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Neurology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.

Background: Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of Spirometra mansoni in East and Southeast Asia. The plerocercoid larvae sometimes invade the encephalon, resulting in severe cerebral sparganosis. Surgical removal of the larvae is considered a standard therapy for cerebral sparganosis. Read More

Infect Genet Evol 2018 12 11;66:256-261. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

The incidence of sparganosis, a parasitic disease caused by plerocercoid larvae of the genus Spirometra, has gradually risen worldwide (especially in remote areas) in recent years. Pulmonary and pleural sparganosis, as well as other sites of infestation, including the subcutaneous tissues, the abdominal viscera, brain and eyes, has been reported. In clinical practice, due to the atypical signs and symptoms as well as limited laboratory approaches for the specific detection of sparganum, sparganosis is often misdiagnosed. Read More

Parasitol Res 2018 Nov 15;117(11):3659-3662. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland.

Sparganosis is a zoonosis caused by the spargana (larvae) of Spirometra sp. (Diphyllobothriidae). Reptiles are particularly important vectors for the transmission of this parasite in Asia; however, their role in sparganosis spread in European wildlife is unrecognized. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Sep 14;19:1090-1095. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Department of Surgery, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

BACKGROUND Spinal sparganosis and racemose (grape-like) neurocysticercosis are rare diseases. Co-infection with spinal sparganosis and racemose neurocysticercosis has never been reported in the English-language literature. CASE REPORT A 41-year-old male presented after having experienced left hip pain with radiation to the leg, progressive weakness and numbness of the left leg, and difficulty urinating for 4 years, all of which was caused by spinal sparganosis. Read More

Gastroenterology 2018 12 7;155(6):e6-e7. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Emerg Infect Dis 2018 08;24(8)

We report 958 cases of cestodiasis occurring in Japan during 2001-2016. The predominant pathogen was Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense tapeworm (n = 825), which caused 86.1% of all cases. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2018 Jun 30;56(3):295-300. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Department of Parasitology, Parasite Research Center and Parasite Resource Bank, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 28644, Korea.

Human sparganosis was diagnosed by morphological and genetic analyses in Korea. The complete mitochondrial genomes of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens isolated in Korea have been recorded. Read More

Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2018 May;89(5):473-477

Background: Diphyllobothriasis is estimated to afflict 10-20 million people worldwide; however, this is the first case reported in a United States military aviator. Among the largest parasites of humans, the "fish tapeworm" grows from 2-15 m in length, can live >20 yr in the intestines, and is contracted through consumption of uncooked, unfrozen freshwater or anadromous fish species.

Case Report: A 32-yr-old male F-22 pilot presented with mild stomach cramping, bloating, nausea, and intermittent loose stools. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 10 6;16(10):e101-e102. Epub 2018 Mar 6.

Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital, Toyama-City, Toyama, Japan.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 02 20;12(2):e0006297. Epub 2018 Feb 20.

Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Tapeworm (cestode) infections occur worldwide even in developed countries and globalization has further complicated the epidemiology of such infections. Nonetheless, recent epidemiological data on cestode infections are limited. Our objectives were to elucidate the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of diphyllobothriosis and taeniosis in Tokyo, Japan. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2018 Jan 22;18(1):13. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China.

Background: Sparganosis is one of the neglected but important food-borne parasitic zoonoses, with higher prevalence in Asian countries. The infection is commonly located in the subcutaneous tissue, brain, breast, and lung, but fewer reported infections involve the eye. Because the majority of patients with sparganosis are adults, it is likely to be missed in children. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2017 10 10;17(1):669. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Department of Parasitology, Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU), Hanoi, Vietnam.

Background: Tapeworms of the genus Spirometra include species whose larval stages can infect humans, causing a disease called sparganosis. Cases of human infection with adult worms are very rare and have been reported in Korea and China. Here we report the first case of human infection with an adult of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei in Vietnam. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2017 Aug 31;55(4):425-428. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Graduate Institute of Pathology and Parasitology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

Human diphyllobothriasis is a parasitic disease caused by ingestion of larvae (plerocercoids) in raw or undercooked fish and commonly found in temperate areas. Rare cases were reported in tropical or subtropical areas especially in children. The first documented case of pediatric diphyllobothriasis in Taiwan had been reported 11 years ago. Read More