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First known case of human bertiellosis in a child in Paraná, Brazil

Nathália Mitsue Kishi1, Amanda Parteka de Godoy1, Bárbara Luiza Viana Afonso1

  • 1Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.

Revista Paulista De Pediatria : Orgao Oficial Da Sociedade De Pediatria De Sao Paulo
|December 21, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study reports the first human Bertiellosis case in Paraná, Brazil. The rare zoonosis caused chronic abdominal pain and tapeworm expulsion, requiring specific diagnosis and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Parasitology
  • Zoonotic Diseases

Background:

  • Bertiellosis is a rare zoonotic infection caused by tapeworms of the genus Bertiella.
  • Human infections are infrequently reported globally, making each case significant for understanding transmission and clinical presentation.

Observation:

  • A 6-year-old boy in Paraná, Brazil, presented with chronic abdominal pain and distension.
  • He intermittently expelled live tapeworms, initially misdiagnosed as Taenia sp.
  • Parasitological examination confirmed Bertiella sp. infection.

Findings:

  • The patient's symptoms persisted despite initial treatment with albendazole and nitazoxanide.
  • Praziquantel at 10 mg/kg was administered, but tapeworm expulsion continued.
  • This case highlights diagnostic challenges and potential treatment resistance in human Bertiellosis.

Implications:

  • Human Bertiellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain and recurrent tapeworm expulsion.
  • Refractory cases to standard anti-taeniid medication warrant further investigation for rare parasites like Bertiella sp.
  • This case contributes to the limited data on human Bertiellosis in South America.
Abstract

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