Molecular identification of Spirometra infections in companion animals and wildlife in Japan

Spirometra infections in companion animals and wildlife in Japan have been diagnosed based on the morphology of the adult worms and eggs, and the etiological agent has been mainly ascribed to Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. However, recent studies have revealed that two other species, Spirometra mansoni and Spirometra asiana, coexist in Japan. Spirometra asiana is a new species recently discovered in Japan. Although morphological discrimination between these two species is difficult, molecular identification is useful. Therefore, to understand which species commonly parasitizes companion animals and wildlife in Japan, a preliminary study was performed based on mitochondrial DNA analysis. Eleven adult worms examined were identified as S. mansoni, suggesting that S. mansoni infects companion animals and wildlife commonly than S. asiana in Japan.

[Stereotactic aspiration of Spirometra mansonides larvae]

Brain sparganosis is a non-common parasite infection by Diphyllobothrium or Spirometra mansonoides larvae. This last one is responsible for most of the infestations in humans. We report a 19 years male patient bearer of a brain sparganosis. The patient presented with headache and left hemiparesis. CT diagnosis of right thalamic lesions was made and aspiration biopsy was performed using stereotactic system, obtaining a whole and death larvae. Histopathology confirms a CNS parasitism and it was treated initially with albendazol. ELISA test confirmed Spirometra spp. infestation. The patient developed asymptomatic with total remission of the lesions. It constitutes the second report in Cuba of brain sparganosis.

The life-cycle of Spirometra species from Peninsular Malaysia

The life-cycle of Malaysian Spirometra spp. was studied under experimental conditions in the laboratory. The Cyclops were reared as the first intermediate host, the hamster as the experimental second intermediate host and cat as the definitive host. Maturation and hatching of eggs took 6 to 12 days by incubation at temperature 30 ºC. The hatched coracidium measured 46 x 34 μm. The Cyclops used were susceptible to the coracidial infection. The procercoid older than 5 days in the Cyclop body cavity had minute spines at the anterior end, calcium corpuscles in the body parenchyma and the cercomer at the posterior end. Procercoids 10 to 14 days old were infective to hamster. The plerocercoids from the hamster after 30 days were long and slender and were infective to cats. The plerocercoids experimentally inoculated to cats developed to adult worms and began to produce eggs between 10 to 60 days. Based on the results that have been obtained, a complete life-cycle was successfully elucidated in the laboratory and hamster was identified to be a good laboratory model for a second intermediate host of Spirometra sp.

[Animal and human cestoda infection (sparganosis)]

Spirometrosis (sparganosis) in animals and man is a serious ecological problem in Russia, which requires the constant attention of veterinary and medical services. The paper presents data on the biology of the parasite Spirometra erinacei europaei Muller, 1937, an account and diagram of a developmental cycle, and original photos of parasitic eggs, plerocercoids, strobiles, and cestode joint from animals.

[Strobila periodicity of Spirometra (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae)]

The non-induced, endogeneous periodic destrobilation in Spirometra is conceived as an extreme of pseudapolysis. The patent time of S. erinaceieuropaei and S. sp. with single or with simultaneous infestations is arranged in separate patent periods marked off from each other by negative phases. This phenomenon is due to a periodicity of the strobila. In dissections during the negative phase only the scolex and neck alone or provided with a very short strobila could be found in the intestine. There were no striking differences between single and simultaneous infestations. The periodicity altogether, however, showed a great variability. A synchronization of the periodicity of egg shedding and destrobilation is concluded from one simultaneous infestation with demonstrably at least 2 tapeworms. After successive superinvasion, however, the periodicity evidently does not become synchronous, the periodicity of egg shedding is masked.