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Human Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense infection in Washington State
Ferric C Fang1, Zachary P Billman2, Carolyn K Wallis3
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA fcfang@uw.edu.
A rare fish tapeworm, Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense, was found in a Washington State patient who ate raw salmon. This marks the first US case, though it might have been previously misidentified.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The fish tapeworm Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense is a known human pathogen, primarily found in East Asia.
- Consumption of raw or undercooked fish is the primary route of infection.
- Previous cases in the United States have been attributed to other Diphyllobothrium species, like Diphyllobothrium latum.
Observation:
- A patient in Washington State presented with a fish tapeworm infection.
- The patient reported consuming raw salmon as a likely source of exposure.
- The tapeworm was identified using molecular analysis of the cox1 gene sequence.
Findings:
- The causative agent was confirmed as Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense.
- This represents the first documented human infection with D. nihonkaiense in the United States.
- The findings suggest that D. nihonkaiense may have been previously present in the US but misidentified as D. latum.
Implications:
- This discovery expands the known geographic range of human Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense infections.
- It highlights the importance of accurate parasitic identification, especially with increasing global food trade and consumption of raw fish.
- Public health awareness regarding the risks of consuming raw salmon and proper food handling practices is crucial.
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