Cerebral sparganosis masquerading brain neoplasm: A rare incidental case

Sparganosis in the Indian Sub-continent and the Middle East

Sparganosis is one of the common zoonotic diseases caused by infection with the larval plerocercoids (spargana) of the cestode genus Spirometra. While this parasite distributes globally in canine and feline hosts, human infection is predominantly reported in East Asia, especially China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Maybe related to the behavior and food culture, this zoonotic disease is rather rare in South Asia to the Middle East. In these areas, sporadic case reports have been appeared mostly in the local medical journals. To draw a solid picture of sparganosis in these non-endemic areas of Asia, we made an extensive literature survey to gather sparganosis cases in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.

Epidemiology of rare bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens in India

Rare human pathogens are infrequently observed clinically but can lead to undiagnosed infections, delays in treatment, severe complications, including death. Traditional diagnostic tools cannot routinely detect rare infections in public health settings. This study focuses on the incidence and outcomes of rare pathogenic microorganisms over 13 years (2010-2022) using PubMed database to obtain epidemiological data on rare bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections in hospitals throughout India. A total of 974 articles were screened using case studies, datasets, comments, classical articles, letters, editorials, observational studies, and meta-analyses. Our analysis identified 28 rare bacteria, six parasites, and five fungal species infections in India. Fatal cases were associated with rare bacterial and fungal infections, including two from pan-drug-resistant bacteria (both from the Myroides genus). A total of 10 bacterial species displayed multi-drug resistance; one was extensively drug-resistant, and eight remained unclassified. Of the 83 patients with these rare infections, the mortality was ∼8.4% (seven of 83). Considering drug resistance and high mortality, prompt diagnosis of rare pathogens is crucial to controlling their spread. An increased awareness within the Indian health care system focusing on diagnostics, record keeping, and data sharing will be necessary to enhance surveillance.