A human case of Echinostoma hortense (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) infection diagnosed by gastroduodenal endoscopy in Korea

Abstract

A human Echinostoma hortense infection was diagnosed by gastroduodenoscopy. An 81-year-oldKorean male, living in Yeongcheon-shi, Gyeongsangbuk-do and with epigastric discomfort of several days duration,was subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. He was in the habit of eating fresh water fish. Two live wormswere found in the duodenal bulb area and were removed using an endoscopic forcep. Based on their morphologicalcharacteristics, the worms were identified as E. hortense. The patient was treated with praziquantel 10 mg/kg as asingle dose. The source of the infection in this case remains unclear, but the fresh water fish consumed, including theloach, may have been the source. This is the second case of E. hortenseinfection diagnosed by endoscopy in Korea.