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Volume 23, Number 4—April 2017
Dispatch

Molecular Identification of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei Tapeworm in Cases of Human Sparganosis, Hong Kong

Tommy H.C. Tang1Comments to Author , Samson S.Y. Wong1, Christopher K.C. Lai2, Rosana W.S. Poon2, Helen S.Y. Chan, Tak Chiu Wu, Yuk-Fai Cheung, Tak-Lap Poon, Yi-Po Tsang, Wai-Lun Tang, and Alan K.L. Wu
Author affiliations: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China (T.H.C. Tang, C.K.C. Lai, H.S.Y. Chan, T.C. Wu, Y.-F. Cheung, T.-L. Poon); The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (S.S.Y. Wong, R.W.S. Poon); Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong (Y.-P. Tsang, W.-L. Tang, A.K.L. Wu)

Main Article

Table

Characteristics of cases of human sparganosis, Hong Kong, 1999–2015*

Pt no. Year Age, y/sex Ethnicity Probable place/mode of infection Location of lesion Size of worm or lesion, cm Clinical features PEC, × 109/L 
(% total WBC count)
1
 1999
 67/F
 Chinese
 Unk/Unk
 Right breast
 0.15 × 0.1 × 0.7, 0.15 × 0.1 × 0.7, 0.1 × 0.5 × 0.5 (lesions excised)
 Right breast mass
 NR
2
 2000
 46/M
 Chinese
 Unk/Unk
 NR
 0.15 (worm length)
 NR
 NR
3
 2002
 29/F
 Chinese
 Unk/Unk
 Epigastrium of abdominal wall
4 × 2.5 × 2 (lesion excised)
 NR
 NR
4
 2003
 63/F
 Chinese
 Unk/Unk
 Left thigh
 0.6 (maximum dimension of lesion excised)
 Progressive enlarging mass for 2 years
 NR
5
 2004 44/M Chinese
 Unk/Unk Right thigh 1.5 × 1.5 (lesion); 0.27 × 0.2 × 0.5 (worm) Right thigh nodule for 6 months NR
2014
55/M
 Unk/Unk
 Right thigh and suspected left frontal lobe
 1.6 × 1.3 × 1.4 (lesion)
 Recurrent right thigh nodule; suspicious 2 × 5 × 5 mm T2W/FLAIR hyperintensity with contrast enhancement in left frontal white matter
 0.22 (3.7)
6
 2005
 43/F
 Chinese
 Unk/Unk
 Left breast
 0.21 (lesion excised)
 Progressive enlarging left breast mass
 0.1 (0.7)
7
 2011
 58/M
 Chinese
 China/ingestion of frogs and snakes
 Left chest wall
 3 × 2.5 × 1 (lesion)
 Left chest wall mass for 3 years
 0.21 (2.5)
8
 2013
 49/F
 Filipino
 Unk/Unk
 Left parietal lobe
 0.17 × 0.12 × 0.23 (lesion)
 Right-sided numbness and weakness for 2 days
 0.1 (1.1)
9 2015 73/M Chinese China/ingestion of frogs Left thigh 0.5 × 0.5 × 0.1 (lesion excised) Progressive enlarging left inner thigh mass for 1 year 0.21 (4.2)

*All worms were identified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. NR, not recorded; PEC, peripheral eosinophil count; Pt, patient; T2W/FLAIR, T2-weighted/fluid attenuation inversion recovery; Unk, unknown; WBC, white blood cell.

Main Article

1These first authors contributed equally to this article.

2These authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: March 16, 2017
Page updated: March 16, 2017
Page reviewed: March 16, 2017
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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