Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Zoonotic Onchocerca lupi infection in a 22-month-old child in Arizona: first report in the United States and a review of the literature.
- Journal:
- The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Eberhard, Mark L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria · United States
Plain-English summary
A 22-month-old girl in Arizona had neck pain and stiffness, and doctors found a mass pressing on her spinal cord through imaging tests. They performed surgery to remove part of her spine and discovered a rubbery tumor, which turned out to be a parasitic worm called Onchocerca lupi. After the surgery, follow-up imaging showed that the mass had shrunk significantly, and her symptoms improved over time. This case is notable because it's the first report of this type of infection in the United States, although it has been seen in dogs and cats in the western U.S. and in a few people in Europe. Overall, the treatment was successful, and the girl's condition improved.
Abstract
A 22-month-old girl presented with neck pain and stiffness and magnetic resonance imaging showed an extradural mass extending from C2 through the C4 level with moderate to severe compression of the cord. A left unilateral C2-C4 laminectomy was performed revealing an extradural rubbery tumor; a small biopsy was obtained. Examination of stained tissue revealed the presence of a parasitic worm that was identified as a gravid female Onchocerca lupi. A magnetic resonance imaging at 7 weeks follow-up showed a significantly decreased size of the enhancing lesion and the patient's symptoms gradually resolved. This is the first report of zoonotic O. lupi in the United States. The parasite has been reported in dogs and cats in the western United States, and from people in four cases reported from Europe. A great deal more needs to be learned, including full host range and geographic distribution, before we fully understand O. lupi infections in animals and man.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23382171/