Echinostome infection in a South Korean woman identified through colonoscopy and molecular analysis.
- Echinostomes are zoonotic intestinal flukes that infect birds and mammals worldwide, causing inflammatory changes in the small intestines.
- A case study reported a 69-year-old woman in South Korea infected with Echinostoma cinetorchis, with adult flukes found during colonoscopy and identified through morphologic and molecular analyses.
- The patient had gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea, leading to the discovery of 4 adult trematodes in her ileum, cecum, and ascending colon.
- Morphologic examination revealed typical features of E. cinetorchis, and molecular studies confirmed the identity of the parasites.
- The unique location of the worms in the colon, potential intermediate hosts, and the importance of public education on food safety were highlighted in the study.
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Infectious Diseases, Public Health & Prevention