An Imported Case of Echinococcosis of the Liver in a Korean Who Traveled to Western and Central Europe

• Published in: Korean journal of parasitology Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 161 - 165
• Main Authors: Byun, S.J., Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Moon, K.C., Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Suh, K.S., Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Han, J.K., Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Chai, J.Y., Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한기생충학열대의학회 01.06.2010; The Korean Society for Parasitology
• Subjects: Animals; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Case Report; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - diagnosis; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - parasitology; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - surgery; ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS; Echinococcus granulosus - isolation & purification; ELISA; Europe; FOIE; HIGADO; Histocytochemistry; histopathology; Humans; Korea; LIVER; Liver - parasitology; Liver - surgery; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; protoscolex; TEST ELISA; Travel; Europe; Korea; histopathology; case report; liver; protoscolex; Echinococcus granulosus; ELISA
• ISSN: 0023-4001; 1738-0006
• DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2010.48.2.161

Echinococcus granulosus, an intestinal tapeworm of dogs and other canids, infects humans in its larval stage and causes human echinococcosis or hydatid disease. In the Republic of Korea, 31 parasite-proven human echinococcosis cases have been reported, most of which were imported from the Middle East. We recently examined a 61-year-old Korean man who had a large cystic mass in his liver. ELISA was negative for tissue parasitic infections, including echinococcosis, cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, and sparganosis. The patient underwent surgery to remove the cyst, and the resected cyst was processed histopathologically for microscopic examinations. In sectioned cyst tissue, necrotizing protoscolices with disintegrated hooklets of E. granulosus were found. In some areas, only freed, fragmented hooklets were detected. The patient had traveled to western and central Europe in 1996, and had no other history of overseas travel. We report our patient as a hepatic echinococcosis case which was probably imported from Europe.