Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 77(2), 2007, pp. 347-349
Copyright © 2007 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
CASE REPORT
A Probable Case of Human Neurotrichinellosis in the United States
Miguel G. Madariaga*,
Edward R. Cachay, AND
Dante S. Zarlenga
Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Division of Infectious Diseases. University of California, School of Medicine, San Diego, California; Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory and Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland
ABSTRACT
Human neurotrichinellosis is seldom reported. This is likely the result of the low incidence of parasites from the genus Trichinella in the United States domestic food supply, as well as difficulties in diagnosing the disease, especially when neither the organism nor the source of the infection are readily available. Although trichinellosis from domestic food supplies has been decreasing for many years, a resurgence has occurred in cases derived from the consumption of wild game. We report a rare case of neurotrichinellosis in the United States and implicate wild game as the source of the infection. These results suggest that clinicians should consider the potential for Trichinella infection in cases where wild game is common in the diets of the patients.
Received March 13, 2007.
Accepted for publication April 18, 2007.
* Address correspondence to Miguel G. Madariaga, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985400 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198. E-mail: mmadariaga{at}unmc.edu
Authors addresses: Miguel G. Madariaga, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985400 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, Telephone: 402-559-8650, Fax: 402-559-6005, E-mail: mmadariaga{at}unmc.edu. Edward R. Cachay, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, School of Medicine, San Diego, CA 92103. Dante S. Zarlenga, Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory and Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Copyright © 2007 by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.