Neuroinvasive Onchocerca lupi Infection in a Ten-Year-Old Girl

Area of Science:

• Veterinary parasitology
• Human infectious diseases
• Medical entomology

Background:

• Onchocerca lupi is an emerging nematode pathogen with a poorly understood life cycle.
• Transmission likely involves black fly vectors and infected canids, with microfilariae maturing in the fly.
• Previous cases in the US predominantly affected children in the Southwest.

Observation:

• A case of Onchocerca lupi infection is presented in a healthy 10-year-old girl.
• The infection involved invasion of the cervical spine.
• The patient experienced five months of neurological symptoms.

Findings:

• This report details a rare instance of Onchocerca lupi causing cervical spine invasion.
• The case occurred in a child from a rural, medically underserved area.
• Neurological symptoms were associated with the parasitic invasion.

Implications:

• Highlights the need for increased clinical vigilance for Onchocerca lupi in the American Southwest.
• Underscores the potential for this emerging infectious threat to affect children.
• Emphasizes the importance of considering parasitic infections in patients with neurological symptoms, especially in underserved regions.