Case Report: Human Bertiellosis-A Rare Cestode Infection in a South African Child

Nitesh Naranbhai; Rochelle A Singh; Bhavani Moodley; Khine Swe Swe Han; Moherndran Archary; Nomonde Mvelase

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0204

Case Report: Human Bertiellosis-A Rare Cestode Infection in a South African Child

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Oct 25;106(1):219-221. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0204.

Authors

Nitesh Naranbhai¹, Rochelle A Singh², Bhavani Moodley³, Khine Swe Swe Han^{4

5}, Moherndran Archary⁶, Nomonde Mvelase^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ South African Military Health Service, AMHU NC HQ, Department of Defence, South Africa.
² Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital Academic Complex, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
³ Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
⁴ Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Service, Durban, South Africa.
⁵ School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
⁶ Department of Paediatrics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Abstract

Cestodes of Bertiella genus are parasites of nonhuman primates. We describe a rare case of human bertiellosis in South Africa: a 3-year-old girl with a 1-year history of rectal proglottid discharge and intermittent abdominal pain. After repeated failure with benzimidazole antihelminthic treatment, praziquantel proved successful.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Animals
Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
Cestoda / classification
Cestoda / isolation & purification*
Cestode Infections / diagnosis*
Cestode Infections / drug therapy
Cestode Infections / parasitology
Child, Preschool
Feces / parasitology
Female
Humans
Praziquantel / administration & dosage
South Africa

Substances

Anthelmintics
Praziquantel