Abstract
An increasing number of cases of abdominal angiostrongyliasis have recently been diagnosed in southern Brazil. A comparative study of 19 confirmed cases and 15 suspected cases was undertaken to review the anatomo-pathology of the disease and to establish histopathological criteria for its diagnosis. The results were similar in both groups, except for the identification of the worm in the confirmed cases. Macroscopic features comprised two types: a predominant thickening of the intestinal wall (pseudo-neoplasic pattern) and a congestive necrotic lesion (ischemic-congestive pattern). Microscopically, three fundamental histopathological findings were detected: (1) a massive infiltration of eosinophils in a'l layers of the intestinal wall, (2) a granulomatous reaction and (3) eosinophilic vasculitis affecting arteries, veins, lymphatics and capillaries. We conclude that observation of this histopathological triplet excludes other causes of “eosinophilic gastroentertis” and establishes the diagnosis of probable abdominal angiostrongyliasis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agostini AA, Marcolan AM, Lisot JMC, Lisot JUF (1984) Angiostrongiliase abdominal. Estudo anatomo-patologico de quatro casos observados no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 79:443–445
Ayala MAR (1987) Angiostrongiloidose abdominal nos estados do Parana e Santa Catarina: apresentacao de cinco casos e revisao da literatura. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 82:29–36
Baird JK, Neafie RC, Lanoie L, Connor DH (1987) Abdominal angiostrongyliasis in an African man: case study. Am J Trop Med Hyg 37:353–356
Barbosa H, Raick AN, Magalhaes AV, Otero PMF (1980) Angiostrongilose abdominal AMB 26:178–180
Cespedes R, Salas J, Mekbel S, Troper L, Mullner F, Morera P (1967) Granulomas entericos y linfaticos con intensa eosinofilia tisular producidos por un estrongilideo (Strongylata): I. Patologia. Acta Med Costarric 10:235–255
Graeff-Teixeira C, Thome JW, Pinto SCC, Camillo-Coura L, Lenzi HL (1989)Phyllocaulis variegatus — an intermediate host ofAngiostrongylus costaricensis in south Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 84:65–68
Graeff-Teixeira C, Avila-Pires FD, Machado RCC, Camillo-Coura L, Lenzi HL (1990) Identificacao de roedores sivestres como hospedeiros doAngiostrongylus costaricensis. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 32:147–150
Iabuki K, Montenegro MR (1979) Apendicite porAngiostrongylus costaricensis — apresentacao de um caso. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 21:33–36
Kaminsky RG, Andrews K, Moran R (1987)Angiostrongylus costaricensis en babosas en Honduras. Estudio preliminar. Rev Med Hondur 55:4–8
Kerr IB, Araripe JR, Oliverira PC, Lenzi HL (1988) Paracoccidiomycosis: a sequential histopathologic study of lesions in experimentally infected rats. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 30:336–350
Klein NC, Hargrove RL, Sleisenger MH, Jerried GH (1970) Eosin ophilic gastroenteritis. Medicine (Baltimore) 49:299–319
Koo J, Pien F, Kliks MM (1980)Angiostrongylus (Parastrongylus) eosinophilic meningitis. Rev Infect Dis 10:1155–1162
Kudo N, Oku Y, Kamiya M, Ohbayashi M (1983) Development and migration route ofAngiostrongylus siamensis in mice. Jpa J Vet Res 31:151–163
Loria-Cortes R, Lobo-Sanahuja JF (1980) Clinical abdominal angiostrongyliasis. A study of 116 children with intestinal eosinophilic granuloma caused byAngiostrongylus costaricensis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 29:538–544
Marcial-Rojas RA (1977) Protozoal and helminthic diseases. In: Anderson WAD, Kissane JM (eds) Pathology. C.V. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 524–565
Morera P (1967) Granulomas entericos y linfaticos con intensa eosinophilia tisular producidos por un estrongilideo (Strongylata; Railliet y Henry, 1913): II. Aspecto parasitologico. Acta Med Costarric 10:257–265
Morera P (1973) Life history and redescription ofAngiostrongylus costaricensis Morera and Cespedes, 1971. Am J Trop Med Hyg 22:613–621
Morera P (1986) Abdominal angiostrongyliasis. In: Spittel Jr JA (ed) Clinical Medicine. Harper and Row, Philadelphia, pp 1–4
Morera P, Cespedes R (1971) Angiostrongylosis abdominal. Unaa nueva parasitosis humana. Acta Med Costarric 14:159–173
Morera P, Lazo R, Urquizo J, Llaguno M (1983) First record ofAngiostrongylus costaricensis Morera and Cespedes, 1971 in Ecuador. Am J Trop Med Hyg 32:1460–1461
Smith JW, Wootten R (1978) Anisakis and anisakiasis. Adv Parasitol 16:94–163
Van Thiel PH, Kuipers FC, Roskam RT (1960) A nematode parasitic to herring, causing acute abdominal syndromes in man. Trop Geogr Med 2:97–113
Wolman M, Kasten FH (1986) Polarized light microscopy in the study of the molecular structure of collagen and reticulin. Histochemistry 85:41–49
Zambrano PZ (1973) Ileocolitis seudotumoral eosinofilica de origen parasitario. Rev Latinoam Patol 12:43–50
Ziliotto JA, Kunzle JE, Fernandes LAR, Prates-Campos JC, Britto-Costa R (1975) Angiostrongliase: apresentacao de um provavel caso. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 17:312–318
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Graeff-Teixeira, C., Camillo-Coura, L. & Lenzi, H.L. Histopathological criteria for the diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis. Parasitol Res 77, 606–611 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931023
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931023