[Two cases of natural human infection by Echinostoma hortense]

Two cases of human Echinostoma hortense infection were found in Seoul Paik Hospital. Their stools revealed echinostomatid eggs. After treatment with praziquantel (single does of 10-12 mg/kg) and purgation with magnesium salt, total 21 flukes were collected in one case. The flukes were 5.9-7.5 mm long, had 27-28 collar spines around their head, laterally deviated ovary and two tandem testes. They were identified as E. hortense Asada, 1926. The cases are 38-year and 20-year old men residing in Seoul, whose hometown is Chungsong-gun and Seungju-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do respectively. They had eaten raw flesh of various kinds of fresh water fishes (both cases) and/or salamander (latter case), which are considered possible sources of this fluke infection. They experienced abdominal discomfort and/or diarrhea. Hematology revealed 22 percent eosinophilia in the latter case, but it became 5 percent after the treatment. Echinostomatid eggs were not found after the treatment in both cases. These are the 4th and 5th human cases of E. hortense infection in Korea.