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Case Reports
. 2022 Nov;28(11):2281-2284.
doi: 10.3201/eid2811.220286.

Imported Haycocknema perplexum Infection, United States1

Bobbi S Pritt, Blaine A Mathison, Richard S Bradbury, Teerin Liewluck, Stefan Nicolau, John C O'Horo, David Grunst, Marcus V Pinto, Amy A Swanson, Abinash Virk
Case Reports

Imported Haycocknema perplexum Infection, United States1

Bobbi S Pritt et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

We report an imported case of myositis caused by a rare parasite, Haycocknema perplexum, in Australia in a 37-year-old man who had progressive facial, axial, and limb weakness, dysphagia, dysphonia, increased levels of creatine kinase and hepatic aminotransferases, and peripheral eosinophilia for 8 years. He was given extended, high-dose albendazole.

Keywords: Haycocknema perplexum; United States; haycocknematosis; helminths; imported infection; myositis; nematode infections; nematodes; parasites; polymyositis; soft tissue infections; zoonoses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Physical manifestations of a patient who had imported Haycocknema perplexum infection, United States. Images show profound atrophy of the pectoralis and deltoid (A) and the forearm flexor musculature (B).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histologic section of muscle tissue from the left deltoid of a patient who had imported Haycocknema perplexum infection, United States. A) Male H. perplexum in longitudinal section; B) anterior region of female H. perplexum in transverse section; C) anterior and midbody regions of gravid female; D) posterior region of gravid female. Scattered necrotic and regenerating fibers and dense inflammatory exudates were also observed. FE, fertilized eggs; SVG, subventral glands; T, testis; U, uterus. Scale bar indicates 50 μm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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