title: The potential of molecular diagnosis of cutaneous ectopic schistosomiasis.
abstract: A 28-year-old woman presented with extensive erythematous lesions on her back after visiting Malawi. Skin biopsies showed ova, which could belong to Schistosoma spp. Sequencing of the Schistosoma 28S rRNA gene, extracted and amplified from paraffin biopsies, identified DNA of Schistosoma haematobium. Cutaneous ectopic schistosomiasis can present with extensive lesions and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions in returning travelers. Microscopy and serology are the classical methods to obtain a diagnosis. Alternatively, molecular methods can be a valuable new tool for diagnosis and species determination.
authors.affiliation: Section Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. K.vanDijk@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Markus V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Starink
authors.forename: Aldert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bart
authors.forename: Erik W P
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Nijhuis
authors.forename: Allard C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van der Wal
authors.forename: Pieter P A M
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: van Thiel
authors.forename: Henry J C
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Gool
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics*; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D012556:Schistosomicides; D011223:Praziquantel