Published online Jan 28, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i4.98752
Revised: October 25, 2024
Accepted: December 5, 2024
Published online: January 28, 2025
Processing time: 177 Days and 16.2 Hours
Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis), is a prevalent parasitic worm that infects humans. It is found all over the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. Strongyloidiasis is caused mostly by the parasitic nematode S. stercoralis. Filariform larvae typically infest humans by coming into contact with dirt, such as by walking barefoot or through exposure to human waste or sewage.
A 35-year-old male presented to our department with a 10-year history of abdominal pain and diarrhea, which had recently recurred for the past 3 months. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed acute cholecystitis accompanied by a gallbladder stone. Additionally, a 5 mm stone was found obstructing the lower portion of the common bile duct, resulting in dilatation of both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts to 8 mm, in contrast to a previous CT scan. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a prominent echogenicity in the lower portion of the common bile duct. Consequently, an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was conducted via endoscopic sphincterotomy and balloon dilatation. The microscope revealed the presence of viable S. stercoralis rhabditiform larvae in the biliary fluid. We documented an uncommon instance of S. stercoralis infection in the biliary fluid of a patient suffering from gallstones and cholangitis.
The film we created provides a visual representation of the movement of the living S. stercoralis in biliary fluid.
Core Tip: We documented an uncommon occurrence of Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) infection in the biliary fluid of a patient with gallstones and cholangitis. The film we recorded provides a visual representation of the movement of a living S. stercoralis in biliary fluid, a phenomenon that has not been previously documented. It is hypothesized that the presence of a living S. stercoralis could affect the process of bile extraction, leading to an increased likelihood of gallstone formation.