A brief report on Gnathostoma spinigerum specimens obtained from human cases

A total of 23 gnathostome specimens different stages from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, other general hospitals and medical clinics in Bangkok metropolitan area and central Thailand were identified as G. spinigerum. The various stages were as follows: Five advanced third-stage larvae (22.0%) of various sizes; 2.20-3.50 mm X 0.40-0.63 mm were removed from the skin, mucous membrane and the eyeball, of which the smallest measured 2.20 X 0.40 mm. Fourteen immature worms of both sexes were from the skin and mucous membrane, one spontaneously voided in the urine. The sizes varied from 4.63-9.35 mm X 0.60- 1.05 mm (8 male worms), and 3.83-16.25 mm. X 0.83-1.0 mm (6 female worms). All these immature worms had 8 rows of complete cephalic-hooklets with the exception of two with 6 and 7 rows of complete cephalic-hooklets. Four mature males size ranged from 9.9-12.5 mm X 1.0-1.25 mm. The smallest was removed from the abdominal skin of a newly born 7-day old baby evidently the case was prenatally transmitted.