Korean J Parasitol.  2011 Sep;49(3):265-271. 10.3347/kjp.2011.49.3.265.

Two Cases of Human Thelaziasis and Brief Review of Korean cases

• Sohn WM
• Na BK
• Yoo JM

• KMID: 1715649
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2011.49.3.265

Abstract

The present study was performed to describe 2 cases of human thelaziasis (HT) which occurred in Gyeongsangnam- do and to briefly review the previously reported Korean cases. A 58-year old woman, residing in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, came to Gyeongsang National University Hospital (GNUH) complaining of foreign body sensation and itching of the right eye in March 2000. Total 6 adult nematodes of Thelazia callipaeda (2 males and 4 females) were detected in her right eye. A 80-year old man, residing in Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, came to GNUH complaining of foreign body sensation, itching, and pain of the right eye in December 2007. A total of 5 worms (4 females and 1 degenerated) were removed from his right eye. We analyzed characteristics of the total 39 Korean HT cases reported to date, including the present 2 cases. Most of the cases (71.8%) occurred in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do before 2000, and 21 cases (53.8%) were males and 18 (46.2%) were females. The prevalence was higher in younger ages below 30 years (48.7%) than 31-60 years (41.0%) and over 61 years (10.3%). The seasonal prevalence showed a higher incidence in autumn (43.6%) than in other seasons. Most of the cases (94.9%) were conjunctival sac infections and only 2 (5.1%) were intraocular cases. The present 2 HT cases are the first reported cases in Gyeongsangnam-do. Some characteristics of Korean HT cases were analyzed.

Keyword

Thelazia callipaeda; thelaziasis; case report; review

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Eye Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/parasitology/*pathology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Seasons
Spirurida Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/parasitology/*pathology
Thelazioidea/*isolation & purification
Young Adult