title: Liver schistosomiasis: an unexpected finding in hepatitis B virus-related chronic hepatitis.
abstract: METHODS
  We report the unusual case of an African patient who underwent a liver biopsy for a chronic HBV-related hepatitis, whose histological sample also unexpectedly revealed elements diagnostic for schistosomiasis. The patient was only mildly symptomatic for the Schistosoma infestation; stool examination confirmed the presence of parasitic eggs. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-schistosomiasis co-infection is particularly rare in Western countries. Only the identification of some pathological elements atypical for HBV infection by means of step sections in the liver biopsy sample allowed us to disclose the unsuspected diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since migratory flows have increased, the number of foreign people being referred to our hospitals has increased. Patients coming from areas endemic for infectious diseases that are absent in Western countries must be carefully evaluated, taking into account possible unexpected co-infections, including in the setting of pathological studies of liver biopsies.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Anatomia Patologica, Ospedale Belcolle, strada Sammartinese, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Ranalli
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dell'isola
authors.forename: Vito V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ialungo
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Starnini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roselli
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghittoni
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caturelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology