Molecular Confirmation ofAscaris suum: Further Investigation into the Zoonotic Origin of Infection in an 8-Year-Old Boy with Loeffler Syndrome

Abstract

An 8-year-old male from south Louisiana was diagnosed with Loeffler syndrome of suspected Ascaris origin. Further investigation of the farm recovered larvated, infective Ascaris eggs from the soil in drains surrounding pens on the family's small hog farm. Molecular analysis of the recovered eggs, in conjunction with Ascaris-specific IgE, inadequate farm management and sanitation, and behavioral risk factors indicate the patient had an Ascaris suum soil-transmitted infection.

Evaluation of copromicroscopy and serology to measure the exposure to Ascaris infections across age groups and to assess the impact of 3 years of biannual mass drug administration in Jimma Town, Ethiopia

“…Only two Ascaris seropositive samples showed a positive result on the Toxocara ELISA, suggesting that there is limited cross reactivity between the respective ELISAs. The porcine roundworm A. suum is still highly prevalent in the Belgian pig industry [14,16] and has been shown to infect humans [35][36][37][38]. We also cannot exclude that exposure to STHs or Toxocara species while travelling abroad could have occurred [39,40], as we did not have any background information on our Belgian serum donors.…”

Excretion of Ascaris lumbricoides following reduced‐intensity allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and consecutive treatment with mebendazole

“…In the latter, they are expectorated through the trachea and swallowed again leading them back to the small intestine, where they grow to adult worms . Complications of migrating larvae of A lumbricoides include eosinophilic pulmonary infiltrates with respiratory failure (Loeffler's syndrome) and obstruction of the intestine or the bile duct . Ascariasis often causes blood eosinophilia .…”

“…7,8 Complications of migrating larvae of A lumbricoides include eosinophilic pulmonary infiltrates with respiratory failure (Loeffler's syndrome) and obstruction of the intestine or the bile duct. [9][10][11] Ascariasis often causes blood eosinophilia. 12,13 In the literature, only few similar cases can be found.…”

Soil-Transmitted Helminths in the USA: a Review of Five Common Parasites and Future Directions for Avenues of Enhanced Epidemiologic Inquiry

“…Two documented species of Ascaris predominate, A. lumbricoides in humans and A. suum in swine; however, the reported ranges of these nematodes overlap, indicating both species infect both humans and swine [18]. In high-income countries, many indigenous infections are thought to originate from zoonotic A. suum [19]. Incident zoonotic transmission can occur within other mammalian species including horses, racoons, dogs, cows, and marine mammals [20].…”

“…Small community outbreaks related to pig husbandry have also occurred in Maine, with 14 probable (8 confirmed) human cases of roundworm infection from 6 counties reported between 2010 and 2013 [15]. One case of Loeffler's syndrome was identified in an 8-year-old boy on a family farm in Louisiana, where environmental sampling revealed a high amount of infective-stage eggs [19]. The source of his infection was suspected to be exposure to inadequate disposal of pig manure and open drainage systems on the property.…”