More parasitic myositis cases in humans in Australia, and the definition of genetic markers for the causative agents as a basis for molecular diagnosis.
Since 1998, there have been six reported human cases of myositis in Australia, attributable to infection with the nematode Haycocknema perplexum. However, an unequivocal diagnosis of H. perplexum infection and associated disease has been seriously compromised by a lack of molecular markers for this nematode. Here, we report new cases of disseminated myositis in two male patients from the states of Queensland and Tasmania in Australia, respectively; genetically characterize the causative agent from each case; and, also establish a PCR-based sequencing approach as a tool to support the diagnosis of future cases and to underpin epidemiological studies.
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Anson V
AV
Koehler
Australian National Wildlife Collection, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia.
David M
DM
Spratt
Pathology Queensland, Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
Robert
R
Norton
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, Australia.
Sanchia
S
Warren
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, Australia.
Belinda
B
McEwan
Department of Neurology, The Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
Ravindra
R
Urkude
Department of Neurology, The Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
Suresh
S
Murthy
Anatomical Pathology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland 4006, Australia.
Thomas
T
Robertson
Electron Microscope Unit, Pathology Queensland, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
Naomi
N
McCallum
Pathology Queensland, Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
Fiona
F
Parsonson
School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, North Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: r.bradbury@cqu.edu.au.
Richard S
RS
Bradbury
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: robinbg@unimelb.edu.au.
Robin B
RB
Gasser
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D009348:Nematoda / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000469:parasitology*
D005819:Genetic Markers; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1
Australia; Disseminated myositis; Haycocknema perplexum; Human; Nematode