Calcified Worm Research Articles

A RARE CASE REPORT OF GALLBLADDER ASCARIASIS

Hepatobiliary ascariasis is found in subtropical or tropical countries and is prevalent geo-helminth infection.Ascariasis lumbricoides are found mainly in the small intestine. Rarely the worm may migrate to the pancreatic duct or common bile duct but rarely to the gallbladder due to cystic duct which is strait and tortuous. The gall bladder ascaris can cause obstructive features due to lithiasis or calcified worms. The management is usually conservative if the worm is alive or else it can be removed by surgery.

Geology and biology of the “Sticky Grounds”, shelf-margin carbonate mounds, and mesophotic ecosystem in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Shelf-margin carbonate mounds in water depths of 116–135m in the eastern Gulf of Mexico along the central west Florida shelf were investigated using swath bathymetry, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom imaging, rock dredging, and submersible dives. These enigmatic structures, known to fisherman as the “Sticky Grounds”, trend along slope, are 5–15m in relief with base diameters of 5–30m, and suggest widespread potential for mesophotic reef habitat along the west Florida outer continental shelf. Possible origins are sea-level lowstand coral patch reefs, oyster reefs, or perhaps more recent post-lowstand biohermal development. Rock dredging recovered bioeroded carbonate-rock facies comprised of bored and cemented bioclastics. Rock sample components included calcified worm tubes, pelagic sediment, and oysters normally restricted to brackish nearshore areas. Several reef sites were surveyed at the Sticky Grounds during a cruise in August 2010 with the R/V Seward Johnson using the Johnson-Sea-Link II submersible to ground truth the swath-sonar maps and to quantify and characterize the benthic habitats, benthic macrofauna, fish populations, and coral/sponge cover. This study characterizes for the first time this mesophotic reef ecosystem and associated fish populations, and analyzes the interrelationships of the fish assemblages, benthic habitats and invertebrate biota. These highly eroded rock mounds provide extensive hard-bottom habitat for reef invertebrate species as well as essential fish habitat for reef fish and commercially/recreationally important fish species. The extent and significance of associated living resources with these bottom types is particularly important in light of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the northeastern Gulf and the proximity of the Loop Current. Mapping the distribution of these mesophotic-depth ecosystems is important for quantifying essential fish habitat and describing benthic resources. These activities can improve ecosystem management and planning of future oil and gas activities in this outer continental shelf region.

Gall bladder ascariasis

Hepatobiliary ascariasis is commonly reported from highly endemic regions like India, Bangladesh, Latin America, parts of Middle East and Africa. In humans, the usual habitat of Ascaris lumbricoides is the small intestine. When the worm load is high, going as high as more than 1000 worms, then the worms tend to migrate away from the usual site. Patients with hepatobiliary ascariasis may present with biliary colic due to obstruction caused by the worms in the gall bladder, common bile duct or as a result of obstructive symptoms caused by calcified worms or lithiasis, which is commonly found in patients with hepatobiliary ascariasis. Acute pancreatitis may also be caused by ascariasis. Management usually is conservative if it is still alive or can be extracted by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography or surgery.

Spatial redistribution of Ditrupa arietina (soft bottom Mediterranean epifauna) during a moderate swell event

Experimental and field studies were carried out to quantify the hydrodynamic mobility under swells of a circalittoral epifauna species. The spatial distribution and structure of one population (NW Mediterranean) of the serpulid polychaete Ditrupa arietina was assessed before and after a moderate swell event in late winter 2006 with the two readings separated by a seven-week interval. The overall density in the bay did not change significantly. However, in certain locations, significant but heterogeneous changes occurred: at some stations, D. arietina disappeared, at others it appeared with high densities while at others, densities remained fairly constant, although in this third case, the population size structure was different. In addition, no trend was observed along a cross-shore gradient. Experimental studies were conducted to determine bed friction velocity thresholds for incipient motion, bed load transport and suspension transport for different sizes of D. arietina. The minimum friction velocity required to transport D. arietina as bed load over a smooth rigid bed ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 cm s − 1 for tube lengths ranging from 6 to 25 mm. Thus, calcified worms (more than 6 mm long) cannot be destabilized by ordinary currents. Conversely, during the moderate swell event, the maximum bed friction was large enough to mobilize D. arietina, making probably all sizes available for bed load transport, while only worms with a tube length of less than 12 mm were transported in suspension at 27 m water depth. Wave statistics in Banyuls Bay indicate that D. arietina transport under moderate swell events should not be a rare phenomenon (28 days per year at 20 m water depth). Thus, the spatial scale for population dynamics studies should account for the extent of D. arietina spatial redistribution by the hydrodynamics. It is also recommended D. arietina be discarded from biotic quality index computations as this species is sensitive to natural hydrodynamic conditions.

Filariasis: A Report of Three Cases

Filariasis is endemic worldwide in the tropical areas. It is uncommon in Saudi Arabia but has been reported from the areas adjoining the Red Sea particularly from the South-Western region. Conventional diagnostic procedures include the demonstration of microfilaria in the blood smears or in the skin snips. Both of these procedures have high false-negative rates. In surgical material the diagnosis is relatively easy when viable filarial worm is present. Necrotic and calcified worms may require special stains for identification. Similarly microfilaria may be missed if you are not aware of the possibility particularly in cases where tissue eosinophilia is absent. The purpose of this paper was to illustrate these examples and to review the appropriate literature in order to make physicians aware of this uncommon entity. This is a retrospective study of three cases of filariasis seen during a period of 20 years (1981-2001) in the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital (RKH). (excerpt)

Bancroftian Lymphadenopathy: a Histopathologic Study of Fifty-Eight Cases from Northeastern Brazil

Histologic study of Bancroftian lymphadenopathy in 58 patients originating from an endemic area revealed a wide range of tissue reactions to the filarial worms. In seven patients (12.0%), no attendant inflammation or parasite damage was observed. A mild-to-intense nongranulomatous chronic lymphangitis was found in 12 patients (20.7%). Granulomatous reactions with variable composition were the most common pattern observed (37 patients, 63.8%); fibrotic lesions containing calcified worms were present in 13 of these patients. Epithelioid granulomas without worms, associated either with granulomatous reactions to the worms (seven patients) or nongranulomatous lymphangitis (two patients), were also detected. Lymphoid hyperplasia and lymphatic dilation were constant, and eosinophil infiltration was usually remarkable. These findings were compared with those reported from nonendemic populations and emphasize the parallelism between the pathologic findings and the immune responsiveness reported in such patients.

Dracunculiasis of the Orbit and Eyelid: Light and Electron Microscopic Observations of Two Cases

AbstractDracunculiasis, an infection caused by the nematode parasite, Dracunculus medinensis, usually affects the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The authors studied two cases of dracunculiasis involving the orbit and eyelid in African children. In the first case, the patient presented with proptosis and the clinical diagnosis was Burkitt's lymphoma. In the second patient, the eyelid lesion was diagnosed as a dermoid cyst. Histopathologically, the orbital lesion showed a degenerated and partially calcified worm within a large intraconal abscess. The eyelid lesion contained a well-preserved gravid female worm filled with larvae. The results of transmission and scanning electron microscopic studies are discussed.

Histopathological and serological observations on experimental anisakiasis of rabbits.

This study was performed to observe histopathological changes and serological reactions in chronic anisakiasis of rabbits. Each rabbit was infected per os with 30 larvae of Anisakis type I. Their sera were collected chronologically and the rabbits were killed for histopathological examination, 3, 13, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 150 days after the infection. The results were summarized as below. Most of the larvae were recovered from the stomach, but a few from the omentum, intestine, mesentery and abdominal wall. The recovery rates and distribution of worms by organ were not differed by duration of infection. Histologically the lesion was abscess type on 13 days, i.e., the dead worms were surrounded by fibrinous exudate, histiocytes and thick zone of numerous inflammatory cells. After 30 days, histiocytes were found to invade the worms and the lesion was changing into abscess-granulomatous type. Also a calcified worm was found on the 30th day. After then the worms were observed to be dissolved slowly until 90 days. On 150 day, only one calcified worm was observed. The levels of serum IgG antibody by ELISA reached their maximum 30 days after the infection. After then, it decreased slowly until 150 days after the infection. Above serological and histopathological findings indicated that antigenic stimulation from degenerating Anisakis larvae was the greatest during the first 30 days after infection. This period was corresponding with the beginning of worm resolution or calcification. Serologic test by ELISA would be a valuable tool for confirming chronic anisakiasis.

On the Longevity of Larvae of the Hookworm Uncinaria lucasi in Tissues of Northern Fur Seals (Callorhinus ursinus)

Adult worm recoveries are shown in Table I. One male neonate mouse given 80 larvae developed a patent infection at 60 days and remained patent, although at low levels (2-5 microfilariae/100 ,l of blood), until killed at 140 days. All other mice failed to develop a microfilaremia. Six of the neonate mice infected with 40 larvae harbored adult worms. All mice infected as neonates with 80 larvae had adult worm burdens. None of the control mice infected at 8 wk of age harbored adults or microfilariae at necropsy. Approximately 77% of the adults were recovered from the peritoneal cavity. Worms were also found in the heart, lungs, reproductive organs, and thoracic cavity of some mice. There was a preponderance of female worms recovered (1 329, 676); the majority of these female worms, however, were recovered from the peritoneal cavities of only two mice. Male and female neonate mice appeared to be equally susceptible to infection. It is perhaps noteworthy that the only mouse that developed a patent infection had adult worms in the thoracic cavity. Although the evidence is based on only one animal, it is possible that the thoracic cavity may be a better site for worm development than the peritoneal cavity, lungs, heart, or reproductive organs. Most worms appeared viable, although a few partially calcified worms were found. The size of the adult worms recovered 140 days after infection was consistently smaller than those found in either cats (Schacher, 1962, J. Parasitol. 48: 693-706) or jirds (Ash and Riley, 1970, J. Parasitol. 56: 962-968); in the mice that were infected as neonates, female worms averaged 30.8 mm and male worms averaged 12.8 mm in length. The successful establishment of Brugia pahangi infection in neonate mice opens up the possibility of the ready availability of murine filarial infections. Experiments should be done to delineate the best protocol for infecting animals and the subsequent development of adult worms and microfilaremias. Mice harboring adult worms should be studied to detail the immunologic parameters that render neonate mice susceptible to infection. This work was supported by a research grant, No. AI-10250, from the United States-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program. We are grateful to Virginia Hansen for editorial support.