Abstract

LONGA, Ana; TRAVIEZO-VALLES, Luis  and  PERDOMO, Rosa. First human case parasitized by Paramphistomidae (Trematoda: Digenea) in Venezuela. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2010, vol.50, n.2, pp.301-306. ISSN 1690-4648.

It is reported the first human case of Paramphistomatidae infection (Fischoeder, 1901) in Venezuela, belonging to a primitive family of trematodes which are described in mammals, reptiles and fish, in mammals have been identified in the rumen and reticulum of ruminants, pigs, horses, goats and cattle. The clinical case belongs to a ten-year-old girl from Portuguesa State, who had a year of evolution: Diffuse abdominal pain, nausea with vomiting that match the stool expulsion of adult parasitic structures. Eggs were collected inside the genital pore of adult parasites while the patient’s stool showed the same ovigerous structures. The parasite is defined as Paramphistomatidae family by means of its morphological and morphometric analysis. The girl comes from a large family group with protein-calorie deficient nutrition who eats products coming from the river near her home, which is located in a dispersed rural area with poor socio-sanitary conditions and is surrounded by rice fields, with large areas that are subject to flooding during the year. This parasite is not described in Venezuela so studies will be undertaken to identify it accurately and to identify the hosts involved in the cycle.

Keywords : Paramphistomidae; human infection; Venezuela.