Emerging Infectious Diseases (Apr 2017)

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

  • Tommy H.C. Tang,
  • Samson S.Y. Wong,
  • Christopher K.C. Lai,
  • Rosana W.S. Poon,
  • Helen S.Y. Chan,
  • Tak Chiu Wu,
  • Yuk-Fai Cheung,
  • Tak-Lap Poon,
  • Yi-Po Tsang,
  • Wai-Lun Tang,
  • Alan K.L. Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2304.160791
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 4
pp. 665 – 668

Abstract

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Human sparganosis is a foodborne zoonosis endemic in Asia. We report a series of 9 histologically confirmed human sparganosis cases in Hong Kong, China. All parasites were retrospectively identified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. Skin and soft tissue swelling was the most common symptom, followed by central nervous system lesions.

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