FIRST CASE OF HUMAN INFECTION BY Bertiella studeri (Blanchard, 1891) Stunkard,1940 (Cestoda; Anoplocephalidae) IN BRAZIL

Abstract

SUMMARYCestodes of the Bertiella genus are parasites of non-human primates found in Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Species Bertiella studeri and Bertiella mucronata could, accidentally, infect human beings. The infection occurs from ingestion of mites from the Oribatida order containing cysticercoid larvae of the parasite. The objective of this report is to register the first case of human infection by Bertiella studeri in Brazil. Proglottids of the parasite, found in the stool sample of a two-and-a-half-year-old child, were fixed, stained and microscopically observed to evaluate its morphological characteristics. Eggs obtained from the proglottids were also studied. The gravid proglottids examined matched the description of the genus Bertiella. The eggs presented a round shape, with the average diameter of 43.7 µm, clearly showing the typical pyriform apparatus of B. studeri. The authors concluded that the child was infected with Bertiella studeri, based on Stunkard's (1940) description of the species. This is the fifth case of human Bertiellosis described in Brazil through morphometric analysis of the parasite, the third in Minas Gerais State and the first diagnosed case of Bertiella studeri in Brazil.

Bertiella sp. (Meyner, 1895) infection of Alouatta caraya (Humboldt, 1812) in urban and natural environments in Ñeembucú, southwest Paraguay

“…Within South America, confirmed cases of Bertiella infection have been documented in Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019;Stunkard, 1940). In almost all cases, the patient had been in close proximity to nonhuman primates on a daily basis (Denegri & Perez-Serrano, 1997;Lopes et al, 2015). For example, a case of bertielliasis in Paraguay was recorded in a patient who was exposed to two pet monkeys (Beaver, D'Alessandro, & Pallares, 1963).…”

“…Bertiella are a genus of cestodes in the family Anoplocephalidae that have specific anatomical features, such as four muscular suckers and an unarmed scolex (Beveridge, 1989). Mature Bertiella tapeworms are divided into many smaller segments (proglottids), measuring roughly 1 cm in width by 0.8 cm in length, which contain eggs that are between 35 and 45 μm in diameter (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019;Lopes et al, 2015). Within this genus, B. mucronata and B. studeri, are known to infect a range of hosts, including nonhuman primates, marsupials, and humans (Gómez-Puerta, López-Urbina, & González, 2009).…”

The forgotten exotic tapeworms: a review of uncommon zoonotic Cyclophyllidea

“…One puzzling case report of human infection with B. studeri from Brazil has been reported, based on the morphology of the proglottids and eggs. However, the morphometric data reported for these features are also consistent with B. mucronata (Lopes et al ., 2015). This case may represent a misidentification of B. mucronata as B. studeri , but as discussed later in this review, the true taxonomic distinction and geographic distribution of these two species are not entirely clear and infections identified as ‘ B. studeri ’ may represent multiple species.…”

“…Reported egg sizes from human cases of B. mucronata vary between 36 and 47 μ m in maximum diameter (Stiles and Hassall, 1902; Cram, 1928; Furtado et al ., 2012). Although eggs of B. mucronata are on average smaller than B. studeri , there is a considerable degree of overlap (Cram, 1928; d’ Alessandro et al ., 1963; de Costa et al ., 1967; Paçô et al ., 2003; Gomez-Puerta et al ., 2009; da Silva et al ., 2011; Lopes et al ., 2015). The pyriform apparatus within these eggs has been measured as 21–45 μ m in diameter at the widest point and oncospheres as 9–16 μ m in diameter (d’ Alessandro et al ., 1963; Gomez-Puerta et al ., 2009; Furtado et al ., 2012; Lopes et al ., 2015).…”

“…Two cases from Brazil presented with marked symptoms of abdominal pain, combined with intermittent vomiting, dyspepsia, anorexia and diarrhoea (Paçô et al ., 2003; da Silva et al ., 2011). All cases with clinical history reported the passage of tapeworm proglottids and/or strobilae per rectum (d’ Alessandro et al ., 1963; de Souza Júnior et al ., 2008; da Silva et al ., 2011; Furtado et al ., 2012; Lopes et al ., 2015). Recently reported cases of bertiellosis due to B. mucronata for which treatment is described have all been successfully treated with praziquantel (Furtado et al ., 2012; Lopes et al ., 2015).…”