Spinal Schistosomiasis

• Published in: Journal of clinical neuroscience Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 317 - 320
• Main Authors: Olson, S., Rossato, R., Guazzo, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases caused by trematodes; Female; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Helminthic diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Neuroschistosomiasis - diagnosis; Neuroschistosomiasis - drug therapy; Parasitic diseases; Praziquantel - therapeutic use; Prednisone - therapeutic use; Schistosomiases; Schistosomiasis, transverse myelitis, conus medullaris, mansoni, japonicum, haematobium; Spinal Cord Diseases - diagnosis; Spinal Cord Diseases - drug therapy; Schistosomiasis, transverse myelitis, conus medullaris, mansoni, japonicum, haematobium; Trematode disease; IgG; Trematoda; IgM; Inflammatory disease; Transverse myelitis; Schistosomiasis; Immunoblotting assay; Diagnosis; Feces; Conus medullaris syndrome; Schistosoma mansoni; Nervous system diseases; Conus medullaris; Plathelmintha; Parasitosis; Medical screening; Helminthiasis; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Infection; Myelopathy; Central nervous system disease; Helmintha; Medical imagery; Invertebrata; Spinal cord disease
• ISSN: 0967-5868; 1532-2653
• DOI: 10.1054/jocn.2001.0981

A 23 year old female presented to Townsville General Hospital seven months after a positive urine test for Schistosomiasis with conus modularize signs. MRI confirmed a conus medullaris enhancing lesion. Serology was positive for Schistosoma IgG:IgM, 3.4:1.8. Urine screening for ova, stool sample, rectal biopsy and diagnostic investigations were negative. She was treated empirically for Schistosoma without biopsy with marked resolution of her symptoms and signs. She remains neurologically well one year after presentation. Serological identification from the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta Georgia by western blot has shown positive IgG for Schistosoma haematobium and mansoni. Schistosoma myelopathy is a rare cause of transverse myelitis, conus medullaris syndrome, anterior spinal artery occlusion and radiculopathy in Australia. It should however be included in the differential diagnosis in a patient who has been in or presenting from an endemic area.