A worm in the toilet bowl! What does it tell us about the challenges in the identification of supposed human parasites in practical parasitology?

• Autorzy: Pinto H.A. , Campos J.R. , Gomes L.C.M. , Costa V.S. , Marcello Junior H.B. , Mati V.L.T.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Non-parasitic vermiform organisms can circumstantially be associated with humans and theiridentification can be challenging for medical professionals. The present report describes the finding of a vermiformorganism in the toilet bowl by a patient from Brazil, who thought he had expelled it in his faeces. The gross analyses ina clinical laboratory reveal the worm was different from other macroscopic organisms routinely identified, and thelaboratory staff requested assistance in an academic laboratory specialized in helminthology. After preliminary analysisin a stereomicroscope, the supposed human worm was identified as an oligochaete annelid (earthworm). The patient wascontacted to investigate a possible case of pseudoparasitism. However, we were informed that the organism had beencollected in a toilet bowl from a rural environment where the untreated water comes from a cistern indicating our findingwas circumstantial. The methodology revisited herein allowed a quick microscopic analysis of easy-to-viewmorphological structures, which are useful to separate oligochaete annelids from helminths and can preventmisdiagnosis in similar situations. We discuss the overly restricted view on human parasites by health professionals incollecting clinical history and laboratory analysis, providing some epistemological insights on the necessaryinterdisciplinarity between parasitology and other basic knowledge with health practice.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Annals of Parasitology
• Rocznik: 2023
• Tom: 69
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.31-36,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Pinto H.A.

• Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

autor

Campos J.R.

• Laboratorio Lustosa, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

autor

Gomes L.C.M.

• Laboratorio Lustosa, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

autor

Costa V.S.

• Laboratorio Lustosa, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

autor

Marcello Junior H.B.

• Laboratorio Lustosa, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

autor

Mati V.L.T.

• Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.17420/ap6901.504