Enterobius vermicularis infection with tuboovarian abscess and peritonitis occurring during pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
Extraintestinal Enterobius vermicularis infections are rare but may occasionally affect the female genital tract. Although mostly asymptomatic or causing minor clinical problems, they may lead to severe infectious complications.


METHODS
Case report and review of the pertinent English language literature.


RESULTS
A 31-year-old, 30-week-pregnant female was admitted with a clinical suspicion of appendicitis. At surgery, the appendix appeared normal, but generalized peritonitis of unclear origin was present. Eggs of Enterobius vermicularis were found upon microbiological and pathological examination. Because of persisting infectious disease, the patient underwent an elective caesarean section, and at that time the diagnosis of a right tuboovarian abscess was made, and salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of an E. vermicularis salpingo-oophoritis.


CONCLUSIONS
This case was extraordinary because of a combination of tuboovarian abscess and generalized peritonitis with E. vermicularis infection occurring during late pregnancy. Ectopic enterobiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic infections of gynecological origin.
Department of Surgery, VUB University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
Barbara
B
Craggs
Elisabeth
E
De Waele
Kristel
K
De Vogelaere
Ingrid
I
Wybo
Monika
M
Laubach
Anne
A
Hoorens
Boudewijn
B
De Waele
D000038:Abscess / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D017229:Enterobiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004757:Enterobius / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery