Larva migrans in the oral mucosa: report of two cases

Abstract

Cutaneous Larva migrans is a very common disease in tropical regions. In the oral mucosa, the infection occurs in the same way as in the skin, but it is rarer. This report describes two cases of Larva migrans in the oral mucosa. The first case was in a 27-year-old woman who presented an erythematous plaque located on the buccal mucosa, extending to a posterior direction, following a linear pattern, to other areas of the mouth. After incisional biopsy of the anterior-most portion of the lesion, morphological details obtained in multiple examined sections suggested Necator or Ancylostoma braziliense larvae as the cause of infection. The second case was in a 35-yearold male who presented a fusiform erythematous plaque in the palatal mucosa. This area was removed and submitted to microscopic examination under a presumptive diagnosis of "parasite migratory stomatitis". The histological characteristics were suggestive of a larva pathway. In both cases the lesion disappeared after biopsy and the patients were symptom-free.

Symptoms of selected parasitic diseases in the oral cavity

“…Ancylostoma sp., also known as a hookworm, is a parasite of wild cats and dogs. Infections with this nematode occur mostly in tropical and subtropical climates due to the warm and humid conditions [26,34,35]. The species that affect the oral mucosa are Ancylostoma brasiliensis and Ancylostoma caninum.…”

Oral helminthic infestations

“…Oral infection occurs through direct contact with surfaces contaminated with dog and cat feces, such as fallen fruits and fishing hooks . Grass chewing, a common habit among rural workers in some countries is another route of infection . Oral larva migrans mainly presents as migrating white tracks surrounded by erythema and accompanied by itching and a burning sensation (Figure ) .…”

“…82 Grass chewing, a common habit among rural workers in some countries is another route of infection. 83 Oral larva migrans mainly presents as migrating white tracks surrounded by erythema and accompanied by itching and a burning sensation (Figure 4). [81][82][83][84][85][86][87] Multiple mucosal lesions are common, and involvement of the throat can cause dyspnea.…”

“…83 Oral larva migrans mainly presents as migrating white tracks surrounded by erythema and accompanied by itching and a burning sensation (Figure 4). [81][82][83][84][85][86][87] Multiple mucosal lesions are common, and involvement of the throat can cause dyspnea. 83 Full characterization of the causative organism of oral larva migrans is usually not feasible due to the technical difficulty in removing small-size larvae.…”

“…[81][82][83][84][85][86][87] Multiple mucosal lesions are common, and involvement of the throat can cause dyspnea. 83 Full characterization of the causative organism of oral larva migrans is usually not feasible due to the technical difficulty in removing small-size larvae. Ancylostoma was the most probable organism in most cases, but Gongylonema pulchrum was reported in two cases.…”