Comments on eurytrematosis in Brazil and the possibility of human infection

Abstract

The manuscript “Eurytrematosis: An emerging and neglected disease in South Brazil” discusses some aspects of Eurytrema sp. fluke as an animal pathogen and based in some aspects of the parasitism in cattle and the life cycle of Eurytrema sp. Authors suggest the possibility of human infection, once there is no research on this subject in Brazil. In human cases reported, the mechanism of infection was not disclosed, so it keeps the discussion opened. Although we focused on animal eurytrematosis, we speculated the possibility of human infection by Eurytrema sp. in Brazil, but after all, the only way to determine it, would be a study searching for people infected through coprological or serological tests.

Keywords: Veterinary parasitology; Cattle; Pancreas; Eurytrema coelomaticum; Pathology

Core tip: The possibility of human infection by flukes of the genus Eurytrema in Brazil is reviewed. Based on the life cycle of the parasite and the high prevalence of infection in cattle, the possibility is suggested, although only an investigation with coprological or parasitological tests could give some reliable information.