Eosinophilic meningitis

Flow cytometry for the microscopy of body fluids in patients with suspected infection

“…The performance of flow cytometers in counting eosinophils is important for some body fluids, such as CSF and CAPD fluid, for which there are clinically relevant cut-off values related to specific clinical entities;13 14 73 thus analysers that cannot differentiate and count the eosinophils (analysers developed for urine samples and the Pentra analysers) may not be ideal for these specimens. Even with some of the analysers that can count eosinophils, the eosinophil count is given as a ‘research only’ parameter (Sysmex XE5000 and Sysmex XN series, Mindray BC-6800, Advia 2120).…”

Central nervous system manifestations of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection

“…A. costaricensis inhabits the mesenteric arteries, causing abdominal angiostrongyliasis with marked eosinophilic infiltration of the viscera, a zoonosis reported from the southern United States to northern Argentina (Incani et al, 2007; Morera and Cespedes, 1970; Rebello et al, 2012; Rodriguez et al, 2014; Thiengo et al, 2013). A. cantonesis is neurotropic, migrating to neural tissue after infection and resulting in three syndromes: eosinophilic meningitis (also known as meningitic angiostrongyliasis), encephalitis, and ocular angiostrongyliasis (Sawanyawisuth and Chotmongkol, 2013). Eosinophilic meningitis is the most common presentation of neuroangiostrongyliasis and is now recognized as an emerging zoonotic disease (Wang et al, 2012).…”

“…It is a matter of debate if L3 larvae are able to molt inside the human CNS and migrate to the pulmonary arteries. Since eosinophilic meningitis is the predominant clinical finding, some believe that, different from what occurs in the definitive host, L3 larvae do not molt or migrate further but remain in the human CNS for 1–2 months before they die (Sawanyawisuth and Chotmongkol, 2013). However, immature adult worms have been found in the pulmonary arteries of patients with angiostrongyliasis (Orihel and Ash, 1995; Prociv, 1999).…”

“…In addition, another study showed the presence of abnormalities on chest X-rays of patients who had survived an episode of eosinophilic meningitis (Shih et al, 1992). These studies suggest that, on rare occasions, A. cantonensis can molt in the CNS, develop further, and travel to the lungs of humans (Orihel and Ash, 1995; Prociv et al, 2000; Sawanyawisuth and Chotmongkol, 2013). There is no data regarding the L3 larval dose required to cause symptomatic human infection, and although no studies have determined the possibility of subclinical infections, these would certainly be expected (Prociv et al, 2000).…”

Neurognathostomiasis in a young child in India: A case report

“…Eosinophilic meningitis is primarily caused by helminithic infections (especially Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Gnathostoma spinigerum, Taenia solium) [1], but can also occur due to various other causes. G. spinigerum is the second most common cause and has been primarily reported from Thailand.…”