Korean J Pathol.  2000 Mar;34(3):235-238.

An Imported Case of Intestinal Capillariasis Presenting as Protein-Losing Enteropathy

• Kwon Y
• Jung HY
• Ha HK
• Lee I

Abstract

Intestinal capillariasis is caused by a small trichurid nematode, Capillaria philippinensis, which infects freshwater fish as intermediate hosts and subsequently fish eating birds as definitive hosts. It has occurred in areas such as the Philippines and Thailand where people eat raw fish. We report an imported case of intestinal capillariasis in a 31-year-old Korean man who lived in Saipan for ten years. He suffered from diarrhea with weight loss, abdominal distension, and pitting edema in the lower extremities for two years. He ate raw freshwater fish in the Saipan 2 years ago. The diagnosis was confirmed by jejunal biopsy. Flat mucosal surface without villi contained sections of numerous round worms with stichosome, larvae, and eggs which were identified as Capillaria philippinensis. The patient was successfully treated with albendazole.

Keyword

Capillaria philippinensis; Intestinal capillariasis; Protein-losing enteropathy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Albendazole
Biopsy
Birds
Capillaria
Diagnosis
Diarrhea
Eating
Edema
Eggs
Fresh Water
Humans
Larva
Lower Extremity
Ovum
Philippines
Protein-Losing Enteropathies*
Thailand
Weight Loss
Albendazole