Sparganum in frog meat: A warning for the occurrence of human sparganosis.

Sir,

In a good number of regions, human sparganosis has become a major local public health inconsistency associated with the consumption of dietary raw frog meat. It has been sporadically reported across the globe, with predominantly higher occurrence in China, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.[1] Sparganosis is a parasitic zoonosis brought about by infection with sparganum, a larvae of Diphyllobothrium mansoni, and belonging to the genus Spirometra.[23] D. mansoni, also known as Spirometra erinacei, is a tapeworm (host) usually found in dogs and cats. Its life cycle comprises of two intermediate host, with freshwater copepods being the first, whereas reptiles, amphibians, and some mammals being the second intermediate host.[4] In frog, it is acquired by ingesting copepods infected with procercoids into its larvae. The procercoid larva pierces the gut wall, moves to the muscle or migrates with the subcutaneous tissue, and grows into the sparganum larvae. Most sparganum are located in the muscles of hind legs, abdominal wall, fore legs, and back of frogs.[4] Sparganum can easily infect humans through ingestion of raw or not properly processed meat of frogs infected with sparganum.[4567]

In this research, we report a case of sparganosis in frog meat purchased from a local market in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. Six of these pieces of meat were examined, with one illustrating irregularity and the presence of edematous hyperemia in its right hind leg, which indicates the possibility of a parasitic organism [Figure 1a]. We carried out surgery on the mass and discovered a wrinkled, whitish, ribbon-shaped, unsegmented organism of 2 mm width and 5 cm long which was confirmed as sparganum [Figure 1b–d]. Although human sparganosis has never been reported in Surabaya, Indonesia, its discovery in traded frog meat should be a warning for possible occurrence in humans. Therefore, it is imperative to create adequate awareness for the public to eat safe and properly processed foods.

Figure 1

Frog meat containing sparganum. (a) The arrow points to an irregular nodule, accompained by edema and hyperemia in the right hind legs, suspecious the location of the parasite. (b-d) Sparganum that has been removed from frog meat is characterized by wrinkled, whitish, ribbon-shaped, and unsegmented organism (arrow), 2 mm wide and 5 cm long. Frog meat and sparganum fixed in 10% formalin

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Conflicts of interest

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