Answer to Case 695

The following excellent answer to this week ' s case is by our guest author, Jacob Rattin (@eternalstudying), medical student and future pathologist. Answer to theParasite Case of the Week 695:Strongyloides stercoralishyperinfection. Many readers commented that this wasStrongyloides stercoralis, with several Twitter and LinkedIn users correctly mentioning “hyperinfection.” Great job! Here is the DIGITAL SLIDE for your reference. While this case had a very sad outcome, it highlights important features ofStrongyloides hyperinfection. Individuals who are elderly or immunocompromised (eg, solid organ transplant, malignancy, corticosteroid treatment) are more likely to experience hyperinfection and severe disease. Hyperinfection can be life-threatening, as it was in this case, with massive numbers of larvae invading the tissues and resulting in death. In this histologic section, the eggs and larvae are easily appreciated. These forms are part of the infective life cycle, which starts when a human is infected by filariform larvae penetrating the skin, entering dermal vessels, and journeying to the lungs. The larvae then migrate up the bronchial tree, are swallowed, and arrive to the intestinal tract. Here, they mature into the adult female worms and begin laying eggs. An autoinfective cycle is part of the normal life cycle, and allows for perpetuation of the infection for decades. In the intestinal tract, femaleStrongyloides stercoralisworms a...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs