Gongylonema: a parasitic nematode of the oral cavity.

We report a rare parasitic nematode infection in a 26-year-old healthy African American man. Gongylonema nematode infections in humans are unique in their ability to localize in the submucosa of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Humans are incidental hosts for the Gongylonema nematode, which is more commonly found in rudimentary animals, birds, and rodents. Approximately 50 cases of human Gongylonema infections have been reported worldwide, including 11 documented cases in the United States.(1) The pathogenesis, characteristic clinic findings, and identification features will be discussed.