Worm Tracks Research Articles

1409. Next-Generation Sequencing-based Detection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (AC) Using Microbial Cell-free DNA Sequencing of Plasma in Atypical Cases of Rat Lungworm Meningitis Presenting with Ascending Paralysis

BackgroundAC or Rat Lungworm meningitis usually presents as a self-limited illness with headache and sensory changes, rarely progressing to coma, death, or permanent brain damage. It is usually diagnosed by eosinophils in the CSF. Once limited to Asia and the tropical Pacific AC transmission via slugs and snails documented on US mainland in 2018. We describe 2 unusual, severe examples of AC infection in infants presenting with ascending paralysis and initial CSF without eosinophilia suggesting Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS).MethodsConventional lab testing of serum and CSF, brain and spine MRI, AC PCR by Hawaii Department of Health, and mcfDNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) of plasma (Karius).ResultsTwo infants, aged 8 and 11 months, presented with fever, lower extremity weakness, and ascending paralysis. An initial evaluation in both included normal brain/spine imaging and CSF with modest lymphocytic pleocytosis without eosinophils. Paralysis progressed despite IVIG. Case 1: 11-month male: Admitted on fever day 5. Paralysis progressed to respiratory failure requiring ventilation for 20 days. Illness day 16: MRI showed spinal cord swelling C3-C7, Brain normal. CSF#3: WBC 269 28% eos, ↑ protein. Visible 8 mm long young adult worms, PCR positive for AC. Rx high-dose corticosteroids, albendazole for >4 weeks. Day 29 illness MRI: Cerebral infarct L frontal lobe, worm tracks medulla, inflammation cauda equina. Slow improvement over 5 months. Case 2: 8-month-old female: Admitted fever day 8. Weakness progressed to arms and trunk. Day 10 illness: CSF #2: Visible worms present, WBC 84, 26% eos. PCR positive for AC. Rx: High-dose steroids and albendazole x4 weeks. MRI spine illness day 30: inflammation cauda equina. Weakness improved by illness day 37. McfDNA sequencing of plasma detected AC in acute stage peaks of 123 and 12 molecules/microliter in cases 1 and 2. Serial mcfDNA testing showed a decline in the AC DNA level in plasma which correlated with treatment and clinical response.ConclusionAC infection may mimic GBS or transverse myelitis. AC diagnosis may require repeat CSF testing. NGS detection of AC in plasma holds promise as rapid, noninvasive diagnosis and assessment of response to therapy. High-dose steroids with albendazole may be effective even in severe AC.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Numerous Fasciola plasminogen-binding proteins may underlie blood-brain barrier leakage and explain neurological disorder complexity and heterogeneity in the acute and chronic phases of human fascioliasis.

Human fascioliasis is a worldwide, pathogenic food-borne trematodiasis. Impressive clinical pictures comprising puzzling polymorphisms, manifestation multifocality, disease evolution changes, sequelae and mortality, have been reported in patients presenting with neurological, meningeal, neuropsychic and ocular disorders caused at distance by flukes infecting the liver. Proteomic and mass spectrometry analyses of the Fasciola hepatica excretome/secretome identified numerous, several new, plasminogen-binding proteins enhancing plasmin generation. This may underlie blood-brain barrier leakage whether by many simultaneously migrating, small-sized juvenile flukes in the acute phase, or by breakage of encapsulating formations triggered by single worm tracks in the chronic phase. Blood-brain barrier leakages may subsequently occur due to a fibrinolytic system-dependent mechanism involving plasmin-dependent generation of the proinflammatory peptide bradykinin and activation of bradykinin B2 receptors, after different plasminogen-binding protein agglomeration waves. Interactions between diverse parasitic situations and non-imbalancing fibrinolysis system alterations are for the first time proposed that explain the complexity, heterogeneity and timely variations of neurological disorders. Additionally, inflammation and dilation of blood vessels may be due to contact system-dependent generation bradykinin. This baseline allows for search of indicators to detect neurological risk in fascioliasis patients and experimental work on antifibrinolytic treatments or B2 receptor antagonists for preventing blood-brain barrier leakage.

Eosinophilic Cystitis Caused by Vesical Sparganosis: A Case Report

We report a case of eosinophilic cystitis caused by vesical sparganosis. The patient had a history of eating raw frogs and presented with a mass in the bladder associated with peripheral eosinophilia and increased serum antibody titer against sparganum. Pathologically, a characteristic sinuous necrosis representing worm tracks was noted with massive diffuse infiltration of eosinophils in the wall of the bladder. The serum titer of sparganum-specific antibody returned to normal after surgical resection of the lesion. This finding emphasizes the importance of suspecting parasitic origin in cases of eosinophilic cystitis with a history of raw meat ingestion in endemic areas.

Bilateral Ophthalmomyiasis Interna

A 33-year-old man had bilateral ophthalmomyiasis interna. A larval maggot, presumably a botfly, caused a subretinal hemorrhage in the left macula. Diagnostic retinal pigment epithelial worm tracks were observed in both fundi, although the subretinal larva itself was observed only in the left eye. Bilateral worm tracks suggested either separate infestations in each eye or migration of a single maggot from one eye to the other.

The Diagnostic Significance of Worm Tracks in Cases of Pseudoglioma Retinae

The Diagnostic Significance of Worm Tracks in Cases of Pseudoglioma Retinae

Pseudofossils: A Plea for Caution

The geologic account of ancient life is plagued with reports that do not withstand critical assessment. This is a special problem in the older rocks, where reports of spurious records continue to dilute the authentic record of evolution on the primitive Earth. The problem is illustrated by brief analyses of three timely examples of widely different ages. These are (1) desiccation curls interpreted as arthropods, (2) drag marks resembling “worm tracks,” and (3) pyrite rosettes interpreted as medusae. It is left to the reader to draw conclusions about similar instances not here alluded to; the record of alleged pre-Phanerozoic life is full of them.

Note on glauconitic sandstones in the Wairarapa, New Zealand

Abstract Cretaceous-Tertiary glauconitic sandstones near Flat Point, showing moderate to poor graded bedding, lamination, cross lamination, and flute marks, are tentatively considered to be turbidity-current deposits.These rocks contain an abundance of worm burrowings and tracks.

XV. Notes on the Geology of South-east Arran

The rocks exposed along the shores of S.E. Arran belong to the upper member of the lower division of the Trias. The red sandstones of Clauchland shore and Holy Isle are seen to pass upwards into a series of yellow and white sandstones, the latter being in places highly calciferous, and, consequently, weathering into very irregular forms through the solution of the contained carbonate of lime. On the inland hill slopes these rocks are seen to pass conformably upwards into a great series of red, mottled, and olive green, marly sandstones and shales, which are classed as Upper Trias, and are probably the equivalents of the Keuper series. The whole of these rocks dip westward at low angles, and the Upper Trias alone, unless repeated by faults, must attain a thickness of about 1000 feet. With the possible exception of a few occasional markings like worm tracks, the whole series appears to be destitute of any evidence of organic existence. An outstanding feature of the geology of this district is the numerous basic sills intruded among the sandstones, which do not seem to have reached the surface at the time of intrusion, but have been laid bare by subsequent denudation. One of the best exposures of these sills occurs at the south end of the Holy Island and along the shore westward of King's Cross Point. Tracing the sill from the east, it rises from under the waters of the Firth, and passes upwards across the horizontally bedded sandstones, till This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract

VI.—Notes on Footprints from the Keuper of South Staffordshire

The footprints from the fissile Keuper sandstones of Chillington comprise, in addition to the ordinary Cheirotherian impressions, two interesting series. A number of fragments of rock covered with worm tracks and castings, show several imperfectly preserved footprints of a small five-toed animal, with posterior limbs of much greater size than the anterior; and three portions of comparatively smooth slabs afford evidence of a larger animal, probably of the same genus, of which the impressions of the feet are preserved with remarkable distinctness. There are also singular reticulated markings upon the surface of another small slab from the same beds, which may be interpreted as the impression of reptilian (? or labyrinthodont) skin. (See Fig. 2, p. 217.)

Societies and Academies

SYDNEY Royal Society of New South Wales, June 2.—Chr. Rolleston, C.M.G., President, in the chair.—Papers read:—A new species of Ardisia from New Guinea, by Baron Ferd. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., F.R. S., descriptive of the only specimen as yet found so far north.—A comparison of the dialects of East and West Polynesia, Malay, Malagasy, and Australian, by the Rev. George Pratt, author of a dictionary of the Samoan lan-guage. This was a valuable contribution towards a polyglot of the languages of Polynesia, some of which have already passed away, and most of which are changing through the introduction of new words and the rapid intermingling of various races. The Royal Society of New South Wales was urged to take steps to preserve these records and customs not only of Polynesia, but of the fast-diminishing tribes of Australia.—The discovery of a poison in three species of Daphnandra, a genus of plants of the order Monimiaceae, by T. L. Bancroft, M.B. (Edin.), F.L.S. (Brisbane).—On some new poisonous substances discovered on the Johnstone River, North Queensland, also by Dr. Bancroft. These papers were descriptive of experiments of the therapeutic action on the guinea-pig.—Prof. Liversidge, F. R. S., exhibited and described: (1) a meteorite, the third one known to be found in New South Wales, composed of iron principally, nickel, cobalt, nilphur, phosphorus, and carbon; (2) the matrix of the rock of the tin deposits of Tasmania, in which the cementing material is topaz; (3) a collection of New South Wales silver ores (38 specimens), collected by Mr. McGarvie Smith; (4) shale from the Hawkesbury sandstone showing worm tracks and perforations, the first time noticed in these rocks.—Mr. Lawrence Hargrave exhibited a model illustrating the undu-latory motion of serpents, based upon the trichoidal plane, a continuation of similar studies by him on the motion of fishes and the flight of birds.

Notice of the occurrence of recent Worm Tracks in the Upper Part of the London Clay Formation near Highgate.

Notice of the occurrence of recent Worm Tracks in the Upper Part of the London Clay Formation near Highgate Get access John W. Wetherell John W. Wetherell Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 3, Issue 9, August 1858, Pages 31–32, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1858.tb02503.x Published: 27 July 2011