Myiasis is the infestation of any part of the body by Diptera larvae. It is the fourth most common travel-associated skin disease and cutaneous myiasis is the most frequently encountered clinical form. Furuncular lesions may result when the skin is affected. Cutaneous myiasis caused by Cordylobia anthropophaga has been endemic in the sub-Saharan African region for more than 135 years. There have been some reported cases from non-endemic regions, and yet C. anthropophaga infestations are rarely acquired outside of Africa. We report here a rare case of furuncular cutaneous myaisis by C. anthropophaga in a German patient who came to Korea after a three-week trip to Benin.
Africa ; Benin ; Diptera ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Myiasis ; Porphyrins ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

Some small mammals occur as household pests and harbour a number of parasites that could be of public health importance. This study profiled the helminth and protozoan parasites in trapped small mammals within and around human dwelling places (houses) located across 4 major towns (Auchi, Benin, Ekpoma, and Uromi) and environs in Edo state, Nigeria. Six genera (Apodemus sp., Crocidura sp., Mastomys natalensis, Mus musculus, Rattus sp., and Sorex sp.) were identified from 502 trapped small mammals. Overall, M. musculus (71.9%) and Rattus rattus (20.1%) were the most frequently trapped. In total, on examination of blood, gastrointestinal contents, and brain tissues, 12 helminth taxa (Angiostrongylus sp., Aspicularis sp., Capillaria sp., Gongylonema sp., Heterakis spumosa, Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana, Mastophorus muris, Moniliformis moniliformis, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Strongyloides sp., Trichosomoides sp., and Trichuris sp.), and 6 protozoan parasites (Babesia sp., Trypanosoma lewisi, Plasmodium sp., Eimeria sp., Isospora sp., and Toxoplasma gondii) were isolated. Most prevalent helminths with relatively heavy mean intensity were Strongyloides sp. and Heterakis spumosa, while Plasmodium, Eimeria, and Isospora were the most prevalent protozoan parasites. Generally, intrinsic factors like sex and age had marginal influence on the rate and burden of infection in M. musculus and R. rattus. Although the infection rate and prevalence of zoonotic parasites were low, they were largely recovered in rodents from Ekpoma. This study elucidates the public health implication of the presence of zoonotic parasites in these small mammals.
Animals ; Benin ; Brain ; Capillaria ; Eimeria ; Family Characteristics ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Helminths ; Humans ; Hymenolepis diminuta ; Hymenolepis nana ; Intrinsic Factor ; Isospora ; Mammals ; Mice ; Moniliformis ; Murinae ; Nigeria ; Nippostrongylus ; Parasites ; Plasmodium ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Rats ; Rodentia ; Spiruroidea ; Strongyloides ; Toxoplasma ; Trichuris ; Trypanosoma lewisi

While imported falciparum malaria has been increasingly reported in recent years in Korea, clinicians have difficulties in making a clinical diagnosis as well as in having accessibility to effective anti-malarial agents. Here we describe an unusual case of imported falciparum malaria with severe hemolytic anemia lasting over 2 weeks, clinically mimicking a coinfection with babesiosis. A 48-year old Korean man was diagnosed with severe falciparum malaria in France after traveling to the Republic of Benin, West Africa. He received a 1-day course of intravenous artesunate and a 7-day course of Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) with supportive hemodialysis. Coming back to Korea 5 days after discharge, he was readmitted due to recurrent fever, and further treated with Malarone for 3 days. Both the peripheral blood smears and PCR test were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. However, he had prolonged severe hemolytic anemia (Hb 5.6 g/dl). Therefore, 10 days after the hospitalization, Babesia was considered to be potentially coinfected. A 7-day course of Malarone and azithromycin was empirically started. He became afebrile within 3 days of this babesiosis treatment, and hemolytic anemia profiles began to improve at the completion of the treatment. He has remained stable since his discharge. Unexpectedly, the PCR assays failed to detect DNA of Babesia spp. from blood. In addition, during the retrospective review of the case, the artesunate-induced delayed hemolytic anemia was considered as an alternative cause of the unexplained hemolytic anemia.
Anemia, Hemolytic/chemically induced/*etiology/*pathology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Antimalarials/therapeutic use ; Artemisinins/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Atovaquone/therapeutic use ; Azithromycin/therapeutic use ; Babesiosis/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*pathology ; Benin ; Blood/parasitology ; Coinfection/diagnosis/pathology ; Drug Combinations ; France ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria, Falciparum/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium falciparum/*isolation & purification ; Proguanil/therapeutic use ; Travel ; Treatment Outcome