A 32 year old male presents to your office with fever, chills, and bloody diarrhea. He experienced itching and inflammation on his skin 2 weeks ago but ignored the findings. Physical exam reveals lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. He recently immigrated into the USA.
Labs: Stool culture shows eosinophilia and trematode ova with a large lateral spine.
Discussion: The clinical presentation directs the diagnosis toward Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum while the lab results indicates that the organism is Schistosoma mansoni. Schistosoma mansoni is endemic to Africa and Latin America while Schistosoma japonicum is endemic to the Orient. Under laboratory evaluation, the ova of Schistosoma mansoni has a prominent lateral spine while the ova of Schistosoma japonicum small lateral spine. Both organisms live in the mesenteric veins. Significant morbidity and mortality result from untreated chronic infections.
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For more information on Schistosoma mansoni, click here.