Worldwide overview of human infections with Hymenolepis diminuta

GARCÍA-PRIETO, LUIS; RODRÍGUEZ-VIVAS, ROGER IVÁN; COSTA, FEDERICO; PANTI-MAY, JESÚS ALONSO; SERVIÁN, ANDREA

PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2020

0932-0113

Hymenolepis diminuta is a zoonotic cestode parasitizing the small intestine of rodents (definitive hosts). Humans can accidentallyenter into the life cycle of this tapeworm via the ingestion of infected insects (intermediate hosts) containing cestode cysticercoidsin their body cavity. More than two centuries after the first record in humans, there are no accurate estimates of the number ofhuman cases around the world. In order to have a more precise idea about the number of human cases with H. diminuta and thecurrent status of the disease (hymenolepiasis) worldwide, we conducted a literature review of published records on humaninfection with H. diminuta. One thousand five hundred and sixty-one published records of infection with H. diminuta from 80countries were identified. This review presents an estimate of the number of human cases with H. diminuta and a currentoverview of the prevalence, geographic distribution, symptoms, diagnosis, exposure to infective stages, and therapeutic approaches for this underestimated zoonotic tapeworm.