Reappearance of Human Diphyllobothriasis in a Limited Area of Lake Como, Italy

Abstract

Parasitological diagnosis was achieved in four cases by recovery of typical operculated eggs in stool specimens; in two others by morphological features of proglottids recovered from feces. Treatment with niclosamide, as a single oral dose, cured the infection in all subjects. This is the first report of this infection in Italy in the last 10 years.

Limnological research in the deep southern subalpine lakes: synthesis, directions and perspectives

“…However, the studies carried out in the DSL mostly addressed important problems linked to human health. These included the quantification of populations and the identification of mechanisms responsible for the persistence of Enterococcus faecalis in water bodies [167,168], and the study of Diphyllobothrium latum, associated with the reappearance of Human Diphyllobothriasis in localised areas of the DSL due to the increasing consumption of raw or undercooked fish because of the increasing influence of oriental cuisine [169][170][171][172].…”

Prevalence of Diphyllobothrium latum (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) plerocercoids in fish species from four Italian lakes and risk for the consumers

“…In recent years, there has been an increasing occurrence of human diphyllobothriasis in the Alpine areas of Switzerland, France and Italy (Dupouy-Camet and Peduzzi, 2004;de Marval et al, 2013;Terramocci et al, 2001;Vaiani et al, 2006;Wicht et al, 2007b).…”

Occurrence and Spatial Distribution of Dibothriocephalus Latus (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) in Lake Iseo (Northern Italy): An Update

“…The spatial distribution of D. latus can also give us information about its life cycle. Ineffective sewage treatment systems are known to permit the contamination of lakes with D. latus eggs released by infected humans [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. In fact, fecal pollution plays a key role in maintaining the parasite’s life cycle and the persistence of diphyllobothriasis in the subalpine area [ 3 , 4 , 41 ].…”

“…At the beginning of the past century, diphyllobothriasis was widespread in its endemic area, but it apparently disappeared since the early 1980s [ 4 ]. Starting in 2000, it has re-emerged, particularly in the shores of the large subalpine lakes [ 4 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The increasing popularity of cold smoked, marinated or raw fish products seems to be the main reason for the return of diphyllobothriasis [ 3 , 15 , 20 , 21 ].…”