title: A waterborn zoonotic helminthiase in an Italian diver: a case report of a cutaneous Sparganum infection and a review of European cases.
abstract: Many waterborne helminthes are opportunistic parasites that can travel directly from animals to man and may contain forms capable of penetrating the skin. Among these, Sparganum is the pseudophyllidean tapeworm that belongs to the genus Spirometra, which is responsible for parasitic zoonosis; it is rarely detected in Europe and is caused by the plerocercoid infective larva. Thus far, only six cases of cutaneous and ocular sparganosis have been reported in Europe; two and four cases have occurred in France and Italy, respectively. Herein, we describe a new case of sparganosis in Italy that affected a male diver who presented to the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital of Rome. The patient's skin biopsy was submitted to the Parasitology department who, in consultation with Pathology, concluded that the morphologic and microscopic findings were those of Sparganum spp. larvae. The patient recovered following a single dose of 600 mg praziquantel.
authors.affiliation: 1 Unit of Parasitology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS , Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bracaglia
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranno
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mancinelli
authors.forename: Maristella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerroni
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massone
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sangueza
authors.forename: Francisco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diociaiuti
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicastri
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muraca
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Hachem
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boldrini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callea
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Putignani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012623:Seawater / Q000469:parasitology; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D013031:Sparganosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D013032:Sparganum / Q000502:physiology*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel
keywords: Cutaneous infection; Diver; Europe; Spirometra; Waterborne zoonotic helminthes Sparganum