Eosinophilic meningoradiculomyelitis caused by Gnathostoma spinigerum. A case report

A 51-year-old man had excruciating pains in the left arm and chest approximately four weeks after ingestion of live loaches. Eosinophilia, eosinophilic pleocytosis in the CSF, and a high serum IgE level were noted. Skin tests and antigen-antibody reactions were positive for Gnathostoma infection. His clinical signs and symptoms ameliorated with symptomatic treatment within six months. Only 34 cases of gnathostomiasis involving the CNS have been reported in the English literature, and ours is the first Japanese case, to the best of our knowledge, of eosinophilic meningoradiculomyelitis caused by Gnathostoma spinigerum.