First case of intestinal acariasis from Egypt

Refaat M A Khalifa1, Manal Z M Abdellatif2, Azza K Ahmed2

  • 1Medical Parasitology Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Springerplus
|January 21, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and Blastocystis sp. were identified in a child's stool. Successful treatment with ivermectin suggests the patient had asymptomatic blastocystosis.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Parasitology
  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Intestinal parasitic infections can present with varied symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
  • Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and Blastocystis sp. are known human and animal parasites.
  • Co-infection with parasites can lead to diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of intestinal mite and Blastocystis co-infection in a child.
  • To investigate the diagnostic approach for suspected intestinal acariasis.
  • To evaluate the treatment efficacy of ivermectin in this specific case.

Main Methods:

  • Stool sample analysis for parasite identification over six consecutive samples.
  • Clinical evaluation of patient symptoms and family history.
  • Treatment with ivermectin and monitoring of patient's response.

Main Results:

  • Eggs and adults of mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and Blastocystis sp. trophozoites were identified in the patient's stool.
  • The patient experienced severe abdominal pain and perianal burning.
  • Family members were asymptomatic carriers of mites.
  • Complete symptom resolution after ivermectin treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Repeated stool examinations are crucial for diagnosing spurious or incidental findings of mites.
  • Ivermectin proved effective in treating the patient's condition.
  • The case highlights the potential for Blastocystis sp. to cause symptoms, possibly masked by other infections or presenting as asymptomatic blastocystosis.

Related Concept Videos

Anthelminthic Agents01:15

Anthelminthic Agents

Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
40
Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction01:27

Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction

Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the renal parenchyma and collecting system, including the renal pelvis, tubules, and interstitial tissue of one or both kidneys. It can be classified as either acute—a sudden, severe infection—or chronic, which refers to long-term or recurrent kidney infections.The primary cause of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is bacterial infection, with Escherichia coli accounting for approximately 70-80% of cases. Other bacteria, such...
1.1K
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
2.2K