Strongyloides stercoralis infection in a non-endemic area

Abstract

Patient: 75-year-old Caucasian male. Chief Complaint: Frequent diarrhea. History of Present Illness: The patient had a history of Crohn's disease, initially diagnosed in 1976 with a positive test for toxigenic Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in August 2011, successfully treated with methronidazole (500 mg PO bid ×10 d). There was a concern that diarrhea may be a result of C. difficile recurrence. Past Medical History: The patient had an extensive medical history, including eosinophilia (8%, normal 0%-7%) in October 2011, gastroesophageal reflux disease, anemia secondary to Crohn's disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and Type II diabetes mellitus. Additionally, the patient has severe Crohn's disease which involves the terminal ileum and colon, and has undergone multiple small bowel resections as well as a colectomy. Medications included immunomodulatory therapy with balsalazide (Colazal), azathioprine (Imuran), infliximab (Remicade), ranitidine, and prednisone for both Crohn's disease and osteoarthritis. Previous biopsies of the small intestine and colon (before the current presentation) indicated changes consistent with Crohn's disease. Travel History: The patient was originally from Louisiana, and briefly lived in Las Vegas, NV. For approximately 40 years, he has lived in western Iowa. The patient did not have a history of foreign travel nor had he recently traveled outside of Iowa or Nebraska. He drives a bus for a local business. Principle Laboratory Findings: Loose brown stool was collected in December 2011 and submitted for laboratory testing for toxigenic C. difficile and cultured for enteric pathogens. An ova and parasites exam was not ordered at that time. Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter species, as well as Shiga toxin producing-Escherichia coli, were not detected; the toxigenic C. difficile assay was negative. A laboratory technologist noted the presence of small trails of displaced bacteria on the blood agar plate from the original stool culture (Image 1). From this, a full ova and parasites exam was performed on the stool specimen.