Angiostrongylosis meningomyelitis without blood eosinophilia

Authors

  • Thanyalak Amornpojnimman Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
  • Nuttha Sanghan Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
  • Nichanan Ekpitakdamrong Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
  • Prut Koonalinthip Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
  • Sumonthip Leelawai Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
  • Pornchai Sathirapanya Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.14975

Keywords:

myelitis, cerebrospinal fluid, Angiostrongyliasis

Abstract

Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Gnathostoma spinigerum usually cause eosinophilic meningitis with associated peripheral blood eosinophilia. A 44-year-old man developed acute paraplegia with bowel and bladder dysfunction. Spinal magnetic resonance images showed a long T2W hyperintensity signal from the 1st to 8th spinal thoracic level. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed eosinophilia and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein, whereas differential leucocytes count in peripheral blood was unremarkable. Positive immunoblot tests for A. cantonensis antibody in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were reported. The patient had neither history of recent traveling to the high endemic areas of the parasite in Thailand, nor consumption the parasitic hosts. Immediate treatment with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone and oral albendazole resulted in complete recovery. Despite an unremarkable differential leucocytes count, absence a history of parasitic hosts consumption, and a less common presentation with meningomyelitis, A. cantonensis should be considered when cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilia presents.

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Published

2021-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Amornpojnimman T, Sanghan N, Ekpitakdamrong N, Koonalinthip P, Leelawai S, Sathirapanya P (2021) Angiostrongylosis meningomyelitis without blood eosinophilia. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:1933–1936. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14975

Issue

Section

Case Reports