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We document a case of locally acquired 'broad- or fish-tapeworm' infection caused by Diphyllobothrium latum in a 27-year-old Spanish man, confirmed by molecular analysis (COI gene). The patient had naturally expelled a worm of 110 cm in length, but the physical examination did not yield any remarkable findings, and the patient did not suffer from any particular symptoms. Laboratory test results were normal except for a remarkable increase in the red blood cell count, and an evident decrease in the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Vitamin B and folic acid values were in the normal range without signs of anemia. It was suggested that these anomalies in erythrocyte formation might not be related to the parasite, and analysis of the patient's anamnestic data revealed that the infection could only have been caused by the ingestion of imported fish, although no light could be shed on the specific source of infection. From a public health viewpoint, this human case of fish-borne zoonosis is exemplary, suggesting that not only is control of fish and fish product quality essential, but also increased awareness of the general population with regard to changes in culinary habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. Group C rotavirus causes sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute diarrhea in children and adults in many countries, but has never been detected among children in Spain. In a recently conducted surveillance study to screen fecal specimens for bacteria and viruses from a cohort of 822 young children who were treated for acute diarrhea in Madrid, no pathogens were detected in fecal specimens from 238 (29%) children. In this study, we examined 147 of those specimens for group C rotavirus by EIA and PCR and found 22 (15%) were positive. Our findings demonstrate that group C rotavirus is an important cause of childhood diarrhea in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different commercial immunologic tests for rapid detection of group A rotavirus (an immunochromatographic method, latex agglutination, and enzyme immunoassay) were used to evaluate 228 faecal specimens obtained from Spanish children with acute gastroenteritis. After resolution of 30 (13.2%) discordant results by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for rotavirus, the statistical values of the enzyme immunoassay, latex agglutination, and immunochromatographic method were respectively 96%, 68%, and 99% for sensitivity; 99%, 99%, and 96% for specificity; 98%, 96%, and 92% for positive predictive value; and 98%, 88%, and 99% for negative predictive value. The immunochromatographic technique showed high sensitivity and specificity and was rapid and easy to perform in the routine clinical laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor related to dermatology published in the December 1997 issue of "Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology."