Autochthonous Human Schistosomiasis, Malaysia

Baha Latif,Dennis Tappe,Devi V Shamalaa,Rahimi Razuin,Chong Chin Heo

doi:10.3201/eid1908.121710

Abstract

Autochthonous Human Schistosomiasis, Malaysia

Highlights

Mekongi and differs genetically from the latter by ≈10%
To the Editor: In Malaysia, the only histologically diagnosed autochthonous cases of human schistosomiasis were reported in the 1970s, all in rural aborigine (Orang Asli) populations [1,2,3]
We report after 30 years the histologic finding of S. malayensis– like eggs in the liver of a Malay man and discuss public health implications

Summary

Autochthonous Human

To the Editor: In Malaysia, the only histologically diagnosed autochthonous cases of human schistosomiasis were reported in the 1970s, all in rural aborigine (Orang Asli) populations [1,2,3] (online Technical Appendix Figure 1, wwwnc.cdc.gov/EID/ article/19/8/12-1710-Techapp1.pdf). The first known case of human schistosomiasis in Malaysia was discovered in 1973 during an autopsy of an aborigine Schistosoma eggs resembling those of S. japonicum were found in liver tissue [1]. Several attempts to recover eggs from feces from the Orang Asli population in peninsular Malaysia [3], a biopsy-positive Orang Asli [3], and serologically positive persons (9, and others) were unsuccessful, which was attributed to the zoonotic nature of S. malayensis and missing adaptation to the human host. In light of growing ecotourism, which encompasses stays at remote Orang Asli villages and canoeing on small streams [10], appropriate public health measures, such as rodent and snail control near tourist sites, should be implemented

We express our gratitude to Khalid

Asian Musk Shrew as a Reservoir of

Technical Appendix