Sparganosis

Sparganosis is a tapeworm infection causing subcutaneous mass or masses (larval cysts). Migrating larvae may form enlarging, and sometimes painful, masses in any part of the body including the eyes and CNS. It is reported in many parts of the world and occasionally in U.S. and Europe.

CASES/YEAR
5 (US); 5,000 (Global)
CATEGORY
AGENT TYPE
Helminths
OTHER NAMES
Spirometra mansonoides infection;
ACUITY
Subacute/Chronic
INCUBATION
INITIAL SYMPTOMS
Subcutaneous mass or masses (larval cysts);
PRECAUTIONS
COMMENTS
Migrating larvae may form enlarging, and sometimes painful, masses in any part of the body including the eyes and CNS. Primary hosts are dogs, cats, and other carnivores. Eggs in feces from these animals contaminate water, and the eggs are ingested by copepods, which are planktonic crustacean. Copepods, e.g., Cyclops, are ingested by the intermediate hosts that include frogs, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. Humans become infected after ingesting copepods from the water, eating raw infected meat, or applying frog or snake poultices from the same infected animals. The disease may be discovered as an incidental finding during imaging studies. Hogs may acquire the disease and transmit it to humans who eat undercooked, infected pork. Infection is associated with local lymphocytic and eosinophilic inflammation. [Merck Manual, p. 1533; PPID, p. 3471] Sparganosis is one of the uncommon causes of pleural effusions. [Guerrant, p. 987] Ocular sparganosis may destroy the eye. [Harrison ID, p. 1159] In 6 case of cerebral sparganosis, 5 patients had eosinophilia. [PMID 21351559]
DIAGNOSTIC
Direct visualization of parasite after surgical removal;
SCOPE
Reported in many parts of the world including China, Japan, Southeast Asia, South and Central America, and occasionally in the U.S. and Europe; [Guerrant, p. 845]
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
  • H eosinophilia
  • S skin or subcutaneous nodule
  • X pleural effusions
  • *blindness
  • *brain abscess or lesion
ANTIMICROBIC

No

VACCINE

No

ENTRY
Ingestion, Skin or Mucous Membranes (Includes Conjunctiva)
SOURCE
Animal Tissue, Eating Contaminated or Infected Meat, Eating Infected or Toxin-Containing Fish, Waterborne (Ingesting, Inhaling, or Swimming)
RESERVOIR
Birds and Poultry, Cats, Dogs, Swine, Wild Animals
RISK FACTORS
  • Eat undercooked meat or fish
  • Ingest infectious agents in food/water
TREATMENT
Treatment is surgical removal. Drugs are not effective. [Guerrant, p. 847]
DRUG LINK
REFERENCES FOR CASES/YEAR
1. (US) Guesstimate: 5 cases/yr;
2. (Global) Reported in S. America, Japan, China and other areas in Asia in people using traditional frog- or snake-meat poultices; Also reported in USA; [PPID, p. 3471] Guesstimate: 5000 cases/yr;