BACKGROUND/AIMS: Human disease caused by the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum and a high incidence of eosinophilic enteritis have been reported from northern Queensland, Australia. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with unexplained abdominal pain and a possible association with cryptic infections by A. caninum. METHODS: The clinical and demographic features of patients from this region with eosinophilic enteritis (group A1, n = 42), obscure abdominal pain associated with (group A2, n = 105) and without (group A3, n = 84) blood eosinophilia were reviewed and sera were tested against A. caninum excretory-secretory antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. Four additional patients, two with confirmed A. caninum, had hookworm infection. RESULTS: The level of dog ownership in these four groups was 79%-100%, higher than in the local population (P < 0.001). The ELISA tested positive in 71% of A1, 67% of A2, and 30% of A3, versus 8% in controls (P < 0.002). All cases tested were positive on Western blot versus 10% of controls (P < 0.0001). The ELISA values increased with chronicity and decreased during convalescence. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude occult human A. caninum infections are common and are characterized by eosinophilic enteritis and obscure abdominal pain with or without blood eosinophilia. The diagnosis can be confirmed by serology.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Human disease caused by the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum and a high incidence of eosinophilic enteritis have been reported from northern Queensland, Australia. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with unexplained abdominal pain and a possible association with cryptic infections by A. caninum. METHODS: The clinical and demographic features of patients from this region with eosinophilic enteritis (group A1, n = 42), obscure abdominal pain associated with (group A2, n = 105) and without (group A3, n = 84) blood eosinophilia were reviewed and sera were tested against A. caninum excretory-secretory antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. Four additional patients, two with confirmed A. caninum, had hookworm infection. RESULTS: The level of dog ownership in these four groups was 79%-100%, higher than in the local population (P < 0.001). The ELISA tested positive in 71% of A1, 67% of A2, and 30% of A3, versus 8% in controls (P < 0.002). All cases tested were positive on Western blot versus 10% of controls (P < 0.0001). The ELISA values increased with chronicity and decreased during convalescence. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude occult humanA. caninum infections are common and are characterized by eosinophilic enteritis and obscure abdominal pain with or without blood eosinophilia. The diagnosis can be confirmed by serology.
Authors: Romano Ngui; Lee Soo Ching; Tan Tiong Kai; Muhammad Aidil Roslan; Yvonne A L Lim Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Sílvia Regina Costa Dias; Denílson Eduardo Silva Cunha; Sydnei Magno da Silva; Hudson Andrade Dos Santos; Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara; Elida Mara Leite Rabelo Journal: Parasitol Res Date: 2013-03-14 Impact factor: 2.289
Authors: Johannes Junginger; Katharina Raue; Karola Wolf; Elisabeth Janecek; Veronika M Stein; Andrea Tipold; Anne-Rose Günzel-Apel; Christina Strube; Marion Hewicker-Trautwein Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2017-09-04 Impact factor: 4.379