Diphyllobothrium pacificum Infection is Seldom Associated with Megaloblastic Anemia

Abstract

Abstract. Twenty cases of Dyphillobothrium pacificum (fish tapeworm) infections were prospectively studied to determine whether this tapeworm is associated with megaloblastic anemia, as commonly reported for D. latum infections. The most frequent symptoms were fatigue and mild abdominal pain, which were identified in approximately 66.6% of the 18 patients interviewed. Fourteen patients received treatment with niclosamide and all were cured. The other six patients spontaneously eliminated the tapeworms. One patient, who also had chronic diabetes and gastric atrophy, had low vitamin B12 levels and megaloblastic anemia. In all other patients, including three other patients with anemia, baseline vitamin B12 levels were in the reference range and did not significantly change when re-assessed three months later. Unlike D. latum, infection with D. pacificum is seldom associated with megaloblastic anemia or vitamin B12 deficit.

Rangelia vitalii in a free-ranging maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) and co-infections

“…have been described ( Gomes et al., 1996 , Mentz et al., 2011 ). Massive adult infections by Pseudophyllidea in the small intestine of humans can lead to megaloblastic anemia due to the deficiency caused by vitamin B12 ( Scholz et al., 2009 ) and folic acid consumption by the parasite ( Jimenez et al., 2012 ).…”

Helicobacter pyloriinfection and micronutrient deficiency in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…This additional information would have been valuable to include in our analysis because the uses of antibiotics can reduce nutritional absorbance. 64 65 Additional reasons for diminished micronutrient absorbance were other infections, 66 such as Diphyllobothrium pacificum 67 or Giardia , 68 which might cause iron and vitamin B 12 deficiency. Any other infection was not clearly described in the studies we meta-analysed.…”

Diphyllobothriidae

“…It measures from 1 m to 12 m, but could be up to 25 m in D. latus species (Table 1). It could live 10 to 15 years, but an infection lasting about 30 years has been reported (von Bonsdorff, 1977 Andersen, 1971Andersen, , 1975Andersen et al, 1987;von Bonsdorff, 1977;Dick and Poole, 1985;Kamo, 1999;Kuchta et al, 2015b;Rausch and Hilliard, 1970;Scholz et al, 2009;Torres, 2013;Torres et al, 1989aTorres et al, , 1993Yamane et al, 1989a;Yazaki et al, 1984; b Ando et al, 2001;Arizono et al, 2009b;Choi et al, 2015;Fang et al, 2015;Jeon et al, 2009;Kamo, 1999;Wicht et al, 2008b;Yamane et al, 1986;Yamasaki and Kuramochi, 2009;Yera et al, 2006;c Andersen, 1975;Andersen et al, 1987;Dick and Poole, 1985;Figueroa et al, 1979Figueroa et al, , 1980Kuchta et al, 2013;Rausch and Hilliard, 1970;Torres et al, 1981b; d Baer et al, 1967;Cattan et al, 1977;Escalante and Miranda, 1986;Hernández-Ortz et al, 2015;Jacobus et al, 2016;Jimenez et al, 2012;Kuchta et al, 2015b;…”

“…This deficiency may produce damage to the nervous system, including peripheral neuropathy or central nervous system degenerative lesions (von Bonsdorff, 1977). Unlike D. latus, infection with A. pacificus is seldom associated with megaloblastic anemia or vitamin B12 deficit and has been reported in only one case (Jimenez et al, 2012). Iron deficiency anemia has rarely been associated with human infection (Medina et al, 2002;Stanciu et al, 2009).…”