An Imported Case of Cystic Echinococcosis in the Liver

A 25-year-old Uzbek male presented with right upper abdominal pain for 20 days. On radiologic studies, a huge cystic mass was noticed in the right liver which was suspected as parasitic. The patient received right hepatic segmentectomy (segment 7), and the surgically resected mass was confirmed as cystic echinococcosis (CE), measuring 10.5 cm in its diameter. The inner surface of the cyst was bile-stained. The patient was discharged on the 8th hospital day, and was rechecked 6 months after the surgical intervention without any evidence of recurrence. The present report describes findings of an imported case of CE which represented ultrasound images of the ''ball of wool''.     

Intramuscular Sparganosis in the Gastrocnemius Muscle: A Case Report

Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. Although the destination of the larva is often a tissue or muscle in the chest, abdominal wall, extremities, eyes, brain, urinary tract, spinal canal, and scrotum, intramuscular sparganosis is uncommon and therefore is difficult to distinguish from a soft tissue tumor. We report a case of intramuscular sparganosis involving the gastrocnemius muscle in an elderly patient who was diagnosed using ultrasonography and MRI and treated by surgical excision. At approximately 1 cm near the schwannoma at the right distal sciatic nerve, several spargana worms were detected and removed.     

In Vitro Effects of SB202190 on Echinococcus granulosus

Spillage of cyst contents during surgical operation is the major cause of recurrence after hydatid cyst surgery. Instillation of a scolicidal agent into a hepatic hydatid cyst is the most commonly employed measure to prevent this complication. SB202190 is a pyridinyl imidazole derivative and is known to be a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK. In the present study, the scolicidal effect of SB202190 was investigated. Freshly isolated Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices were subjected to SB202190 treatment (10, 20, 40, and 80 µM), and the effects on parasite viability were monitored by trypan blue staining. Corresponding effects were visualized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Dose-dependent protoscolex death within a few days of SB202190 treatment was observed. Although the in vitro scolicidal effect of SB202190 was satisfactory, the in vivo efficacy of this drug and also possible side effects remain to be further investigated.     

Higher Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Antigen in Patients with Cystic Hydatid Disease than in Patients Referred to Internal Medicine Clinics in Turkey

Turkey remains an intermediate area for prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigenemia. The sheep-raising areas of Turkey also pose a high risk for cystic hydatid disease (CHD). Both HBV infection and CHD are major public health issues particularly in eastern parts of Turkey; however, there is no data regarding HBV infection in patients who have had CHD. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between HBV infection and CHD and suggest ways to reduce HBV infection which is still widespread in Turkey. A retrospective study was conducted with 94 adult patients with active CHD referred to the hepatology department, Yuzuncuyil University School of Medicine from December 2010 to December 2012. All subjects came from rural areas of the region and underwent ultrasonography of abdomen which detected CHD of the liver. All the patients were serologically positive for Echinococcus granulosus. The control group consisted of 500 patients (300 men and 200 women) referred to the internal medicine clinics for other reasons. The patients with CHD and in the control group were tested for the existence of HBs antigen according to the standard procedures. The seroprevalence of HBs antigen was significantly higher in patients with active CHD than those in the control group (12.7% vs 5.2%; P=0.0017). Our data indicate that there is significant association between HBV infection and CHD. All patients with CHD should be screened for HBV infection.     

A Comparison of Techniques Useful for Preparing Nematodes for Scanning Electron Microscopy

Second-stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita were prepared by several different techniques for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Sequential fixation in the cold (4-8 C) was superior to rapid fixation at room temperature, glutaraldehyde and glutaraldehyde-formalin were better fixatives than formalin alone, and critical point drying with carbon dioxide or Freon gave similar results that were only slightly better than air drying with Freon. Freeze drying sequentially fixed nematodes from 100% ethanol in liquid propane produced the best preserved specimens with the fewest artifacts. Specimens of various free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes were prepared for SEM by freeze drying. This technique was adequate for most genera but unsatisfactory for a few. Although each genus may require a different procedure for optimum preservation of detail, sequential fixation with glutaraldehyde and freeze drying are comparable and often superior to commonly used techniques for preparing nematodes for SEM.     

Three New Species of Nothacrobeles (Nemata: Cephalobidae) from the Mojave Desert, California

Three new species of Nothacrobeles are described from localities in the Mojave Desert, southern California. Nothacrobeles triniglarus n. sp. is characterized by the presence of a long post-vulval sac and three tubular adoral projections. Both N. spatulatus n. sp. and N. nanocorpus n. sp. are smaller than any other known species within the genus. Nothacrobeles spatulatus n. sp. has labial probolae that are short and spatulate without a basal ridge, whereas those of N. nanocorpus n. sp. are flattened and plate-like. Furthermore, N. nanocorpus n. sp. is unique by its extremely short esophageal corpus (less than 25 µm long in adult females) and the small size of its guard processes. An emended diagnosis of the genus is given to accommodate distinctive characteristics of these new species. A table comparing the 11 valid species of Nothacrobeles is presented.     

Three New Species of Brevitobrilus (Nematoda) with a Discussion on Relationships within the Genus

Three new species of the genus BrevitobriusTsalolikhin, 1981 are described. Brevitobrilus glandulatus n. sp. is characterized by conspicuous sphincter between pars dilatata and uterus; two pairs of vaginal glands; spicules having elliptical capitula with small proximal stiffening piece; proximally-arcuate gubernaculum; S3 and S4 smaller than other supplements; S6 out of spicular range and 57-60 micropapillae. Brevitobrilus dimorphicus n. sp. is diagnosed by sexual dimorphism in labial sensilla and amphids; thick-walled rectum with a diverticulum protruding into intestinal lumen and males with boat-shaped spicules and S6 occasionally slightly smaller than other supplements. Brevitobrilus allahabadensis n. sp. possesses large amphids of 28-33% of corresponding labial diameter in both sexes; vagina and uterus with muscular, plicate walls; well developed sphincter between vas deferens and ejaculatory duct; capitulate spicules with sloping ventral and angular dorsal walls; S3, S4 and S6 smaller than other supplements, S6 close to cloaca and 28-37 micropapillae. The relationships of the species of genus Brevitobrilus have been assessed using morphological characters subjected to parsimony and a non cladistic key to identification of species is given.     

Discovery of taeniid eggs from a 17th century tomb in Korea

Even though Taenia spp. eggs are occasionally discovered from archeological remains around the world, these eggs have never been discovered in ancient samples from Korea. When we attempted to re-examine the archeological samples maintained in our collection, the eggs of Taenia spp., 5 in total number, were recovered from a tomb of Gongju-si. The eggs had radially striated embryophore, and 37.5-40.0 μm×37.5 μm in size. This is the first report on taeniid eggs from ancient samples of Korea, and it is suggested that intensive examination of voluminous archeological samples should be needed for identification of Taenia spp.     

New species of Rhabdochona Railliet, 1916 (Nemata: Rhabdochonidae) from Rainbow Trout in California Streams

Three new species of Rhabdochona Railliet, 1916 are described and illustrated from Salmo gairdneri Richardson (rainbow trout) in freshwater streams in California: Rhabdochona californiemis n. sp., R. paxmani n. sp., and R. satmonis n. sp. Rhabdochona californiensis n. sp. is characterized by 14 anteriorly directed teeth in the prostome, egg devoid of filaments or floats, male and female tail terminus with a single mucro, left (long) spicule slender with a moderate distended podoid terminal end, spicular ratio 1:3.8. Rhabdochona paxmani n. sp. is characterized by 10 teeth in the prostome, eggs with polar floats, left (long) spicule slender with podoid terminus distended and having a minute subterminal spine; right spicule with prominent gorgeret (barb), spicular ratio 1:4.3, male and female tail terminus with a cuticular conical rounded short projection. Rhabdochona salmoni, n. sp. is characterized by 10 teeth anteriorly directed in the prostome, eggs with polar floats, left spicule slender with a distended podoid terminus; right spicule with a sharply indented gorgeret, spicular ratio 1:4.3, male and female tail terminus with a conical or rounded tip.     

Nothacrobeles,n. gen., with Descriptions of Four New Species (Nematoda: Cephalobidae)

A new nematode genus, Nothacrobeles, is proposed in the subfamily Acrobelinae. Four new species are described and one new combination made. The five species exhibit a progression from short-to-long, bifurcate, elaborately fringed labial probolae, the longest probolae resembling those of species of Acrobeles.     

Review of Chinese Oligaphorurini (Collembola, Onychiuridae) with descriptions of two new Palaearctic species

A checklist of Chinese Oligaphorurini is given. Two new Chinese species, Micraphorura changbaiensissp. n. and Oligaphorura pseudomontanasp. n., are described from Changbai Mountain Range. Micraphorura changbaiensis sp. n. has the same dorsal pseudocelli formula and number of papillae in Ant. III sensory organ as Micraphorura uralica, but they can be easily distinguished by number of chaetae in Ant. III sensory organ, ventral pseudocelli formula, ventral parapseudocelli formula, number of pseudocelli on subcoxa 1 of legs I-III, dorsal axial chaeta on Abd. V and number of chaetae on tibiotarsi. Oligaphorura pseudomontana sp. n. is very similar to the species Oligaphorura montana having an increased number of pseudocelli on body dorsally, well marked base of antenna with 1 pseudocellus and 3 pseudocelli outside, subcoxa 1 of legs I-III with 1 pseudocellus each, dorsally S-chaetae formula as 11/011/22211 from head to Abd. V, S-microchaeta present on Th. II-III, claw without inner teeth and with 1+1 lateral teeth, and unguiculus with basal lamella; but they can be separated easily by the number of pseudocelli on Abd. V and VI terga, parapseudocelli on the body, number of chaetae on Th. I tergum, and number of chaetae on tibiotarsi. A key to Chinese species of Oligaphorurini is provided in the present paper.