Human Intestinal Capillariasis in an Area of Nonendemicity: Case Report and Review

Abstract

We report a rare case of human intestinal capillariasis in a young Colombian man who presented with abdominal pain and mild, self-limited diarrhea. Capillaria eggs were visualized in the feces, and treatment with mebendazole (200 mg/d for 3 weeks) resulted in clinical and parasitological cure. To our knowledge, this is the first case in a South American person and the second case reported in Europe. This case highlights the acquisition of endemic intestinal parasitosis far away from classically considered areas of endemicity. We review the English-language literature on human intestinal capillariasis and compare findings from other cases with those from the current case.

Emerging helminth zoonoses

“…However, the geographic extent of infection has continued to widen, with cases since recorded in Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, India, Iran, and Egypt [6±10]. A number of case reports have documented importation of infection into Europe from endemic areas [7,11,12]. Of interest, examination of human stool samples from prehistoric settlements in France [13] suggests that the infection may have been endemic in humans at that time.…”

Rattus norvegicus como indicador de la circulación de Capillaria hepatica y Taenia taeniaeformis en la Plaza Minorista de Medellín, Colombia

“…Además, su único antecedente epidemiológico fue tener dos caninos como mascotas en su vivienda en Colombia. En los registros consultados no existe una explicación clara de su posible fuente de infección (21).…”

Molecular detection of Capillaria philippinensis: An emerging zoonosis in Egypt

“…A case has been detected in Italy (Chichino et al, 1992), but was thought have gotten the infection from Indonesia, and another case was reported from Spain (Dronda et al, 1993) but the infection was suspected to be from Colombia.…”