AI Article Synopsis
- Cercarial dermatitis, also known as swimmer's itch, is caused by larval forms of bird schistosomes, requiring freshwater snails and waterfowl in their life cycle, leading to itchy skin lesions upon repeated exposure.
- In Belgium's Eau d'Heure Lakes, outbreaks were reported in 2012 and again in 2015, with 78 and 30 cases respectively, but no free cercariae were detected from 2012-2013.
- The study identified infected snails as Radix balthica and Radix auricularia, with the cercariae belonging to two haplotypes of Trichobilharzia franki, marking the first record of this parasite and related skin condition in Belgium.
Article Abstract
Background: Cercarial dermatitis or swimmer's itch is a skin condition in humans due to the larval forms of bird schistosomes of some species of the genus Trichobilharzia. The life cycle of these schistosomes requires freshwater snails (intermediate host) and waterfowl (definitive host). Repeated exposures to cercariae can lead to skin sensitization with the induction of pruritic skin lesions.
Methods: We describe, in this study, two outbreaks of human cercarial dermatitis at the Eau d'Heure Lakes, Belgium. In July and August 2012, a total of, respectively, 78 and 10 people reported a sudden skin rash accompanied by pruritus following recreational activities in the Plate Taille Lake. However, no ocellate furcocercariae were detected following light exposure of the snails collected between September 2012 and September 2013 (n = 402). No outbreaks were recorded in 2013 and 2014. In August 2015, about 30 new cases were recorded. Snails were collected (n = 270) in different locations around the lake. PCR was used to identify accurately the intermediate hosts and the parasite species involved.
Results: After light exposure, seven Radix spp. (2.6%) shed ocellate furcocercariae. Molecular identification based on the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 sequence ascribed the infected snails to R. balthica ( = R. peregra = R. ovata) (6/7) and R. auricularia (1/7). Based on the amplification of the D2 domain of the 28S rDNA, the cercariae were shown to belong to two different haplotypes of Trichobilharzia franki.
Conclusions: This is the first record in Belgium of T. franki and associated skin condition.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2016.2034 | DOI Listing |
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