Eosinophilic ileitis with perforation caused by Angiostrongylus (Parastrongylus) costaricensis. A case study and review. 1997

S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
Department of Pathology, Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance 90509, USA.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis (classified under the more specific genus Parastrongylus by different authors) is a filiform intestinal nematode endemic to Central and South America, which afflicts primarily the pediatric population 1 to 13 years of age. Only three cases of adult infections have been previously documented outside the endemic region. To our knowledge, we report the first such case in the western United States, as well as the oldest patient yet recorded. Our patient is a 73-year-old woman living in Los Angeles who presented with an acute abdomen 4 weeks following a 5-month visit to El Salvador. Examination of the gross ileum removed at exploratory laparotomy revealed a perforation associated with a segmentally thickened intestinal wall. Microscopic examination showed eosinophilic ileitis, arterial lumens containing nematodes morphologically consistent with A costaricensis, eggs in the submucosa, and arteriolitis with thrombosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007079 Ileitis Inflammation of any segment of the ILEUM and the ILEOCECAL VALVE.
D007416 Intestinal Perforation Opening or penetration through the wall of the INTESTINES. Intestinal Perforations,Perforation, Intestinal,Perforations, Intestinal
D004802 Eosinophilia Abnormal increase of EOSINOPHILS in the blood, tissues or organs. Eosinophilia, Tropical,Hypereosinophilia,Tropical Eosinophilia,Hypereosinophilias,Tropical Eosinophilias
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000801 Angiostrongylus A genus of parasitic nematodes of the superfamily METASTRONGYLOIDEA. Two species, ANGIOSTRONGYLUS CANTONENSIS and A. vasorum, infest the lungs of rats and dogs, respectively. A. cantonensis is transmissible to man where it causes frequently fatal infection of the central nervous system.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017206 Strongylida Infections Infections with nematodes of the order STRONGYLIDA. Stephanurus dentatus Infections,Syngamiasis,Angiostrongylus Infections,Infections, Stephanurus dentatus,Infections, Strongylida,Angiostrongylus Infection,Infection, Angiostrongylus,Infection, Stephanurus dentatus,Infection, Strongylida,Stephanurus dentatus Infection,Strongylida Infection,Syngamiases

Related Publications

S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
January 1988, Reviews of infectious diseases,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
January 1979, Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
July 1980, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
April 1994, Bulletin de l'Academie nationale de medecine,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
May 1992, Revista medica de Panama,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
January 2004, Journal of travel medicine,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
January 1982, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
January 2011, International journal of medical sciences,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
November 1983, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
S S Wu, and S W French, and J A Turner
July 2014, QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians,
Copied contents to your clipboard!