TRICHINELLA PSEUDOSPIRALIS IN HUMANS - DESCRIPTION OF A CASE AND ITS TREATMENT

The first known human case of Trichinella pseudospiralis myositis is d escribed. A 33 years old woman reported 5 years of relatively mild sym ptoms of tiredness, muscle fatigue and muscle pain after exercise. She had minimal proximal weakness. Creatinine kinase was significantly el evated, and muscle biopsy showed polymyositis and Trichinella larvae. Steroid treatment dramatically worsened the weakness. Treatment with a lbendazole led to complete resolution of symptoms and laboratory abnor malities. Diagnosis and identification of the parasite were based on t he distinctive appearance of the unencapsulated larvae and their movem ent in fresh muscle, plus clinical and laboratory findings.