What is Sparganosis?

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Sparganosis is an infection with the larval stages of diphyllobothriid tapeworms, other than Diphyllobothrium latum, that belong to the genus Spirometra.Most cases of sparganosis are reported from the Far East; however, cases are seen worldwide including rare reports out of the US.The life cycle is very similar to D. latum. The adult Spirometra tapeworms live in the intestines of dogs and cats. When the pet defecates, tapeworm eggs are released into the environment. The eggs hatch in water where this stage of the parasite is ingested by copepods. The copepod is then ingested by a second intermediate host such as an amphibian or reptile where the plerocercoid larvae is developed.When a dog or cat eats the frog or reptile, the life cycle is complete. Humans serve as an accidental host and the life cycle cannot be completed.People typically are infected with sparganosis when they drink water contaminated with infected copepods, by eating raw or undercooked frog or snake or using the animals flesh as a poulice to an open wound.The symptoms of sparganosis in humans depend on where the migrating larvae end up. The subcutaneous tissue is the most frequent location. Here painful nodules are the norm. If the larvae migrate to the brain, however, much more serious neurological symptoms will ensue.Diagnosis of sparganosis is typically made by recovering the larvae from the lesion or nodule. There is currently no recommended treatment for sparganosis other than surgically removing the larval cestode.Since sparganosis is so rare, prevention strategies in public health have not been of great importance.The obvious preventive measures would be identifying and avoiding drinking contaminated water, not eating raw or undercooked frogs, etc and avoid poulticing inflamed lesions.For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page