title: First report of Schistosoma mekongi infection with brain involvement.
abstract: We describe, to our knowledge, the first reported case of Schistosoma mekongi infection with brain involvement. S. mekongi is a distinct species most closely related to Schistosoma japonicum that is endemic in a defined area of the Mekong River in Laos and Cambodia and characteristically associated with hepatosplenic disease. The patient had an excellent response to praziquantel therapy but required repeated courses of corticosteroid therapy to suppress recrudescent neurological symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. shouston@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Stan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kowalewska-Grochowska
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McKean
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology*; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel