Ectopic Human <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> Infection by an Adult Worm in the Mesocolon

Abstract

We report here an ectopic case of Fasciola hepatica infection confirmed by recovery of an adult worm in the mesocolon. A 56-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with discomfort and pain in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Abdominal CT showed 3 abscesses in the left upper quadrant, mesentery, and pelvic cavity. On surgical exploration, abscess pockets were found in the mesocolon of the sigmoid colon and transverse colon. A leaf-like worm found in the abscess pocket of the mesocolon of the left colon was diagnosed as an adult fluke of F. hepatica. Histologically, numerous eggs of F. hepatica were noted with acute and chronic granulomatous inflammations in the subserosa and pericolic adipose tissues. Conclusively, a rare case of ectopic fascioliasis has been confirmed in this study by the adult worm recovery of F. hepatica in the mesocolon.

NumerousFasciolaplasminogen-binding proteins may underlie blood-brain barrier leakage and explain neurological disorder complexity and heterogeneity in the acute and chronic phases of human fascioliasis

“…Whole worms have been sometimes found inside these different types of lesions (Ghawabi et al ., 1978; Ragab and Farag, 1978; Acosta-Ferreira et al ., 1979; Park et al ., 1984; Aroonroch et al ., 2006; Kim et al ., 2015). However, worm absence inside such formations is the most current observation reported from patients, indicating that these intratissular worms are able to escape from such host reactions.…”

A Case of Ectopic Peritoneal Paragonimiasis Mimicking Diverticulitis or Abdominal Abscess

“…In addition to Paragonimus species, the metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica migrate to the peritoneal cavity to reach the liver and bile duct, the usual site of infection. Occasionally, the metacercaria is entrapped in the peritoneum, grows to be an adult, and produces abscess [ 20 , 21 ]. Larvae of Anisakis species and the plerocercoid of Spirometra species (=sparganum) can also penetrate the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and could be found in the peritoneal cavity [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Human Cases of Fascioliasis in Fujian Province, China

“…Human fascioliasis has been ignored for a long time until the last decade, when this zoonotic infection emerged or reemerged in more than 60 countries [3,4]. Humans are accidental hosts by ingesting raw fresh water plants or drinking water contaminated with metacercariae [5].…”