Schistosomal peritonitis secondary to perforated appendicitis

CASE REPORT

Schistosomal peritonitis secondary to perforated appendicitis

Humphrey D Mazigo^I; Geofrey C Giiti^II; Maria Zinga^I; Jorg Heukelbach^III; Peter Rambau^IV

^IDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Weill-Bugando University College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania

^IIDepartment of Surgery, Bugando Medical Center, Mwanza, Tanzania

^IIIDepartment of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

^IVDepartment of Pathology, Weill-Bugando University College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania

^{Correspondence to}

ABSTRACT

In Tanzania, Schistosoma mansoni is endemic and causes intestinal schistosomiasis which affects various internal organs. However, worldwide there have been very few reports of cases of peritonitis due to schistosomal appendicitis. Here we report a rare case of schistosomal appendicitis with peritonitis in a 33 year-old male patient who recovered quickly after surgery.

Keywords: appendicitis; peritonitis; Schistosoma mansoni; Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION

Schistosomiasis causes chronic granulomatous disease affecting many systems and organs. The disease is endemic in many parts of the world with highest burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, 85% of the world population at risk is living, and about 97% of all infections occur.^1,2 In Tanzania, both Schistosoma mansoni affecting the gastrointestinal system and S. haematobium affecting the urinary system, are endemic.¹

Ectopic localizations of intestinal schistosomiasis have been described from almost all parts of the human body, and morbidity is usually caused by migrating ectopic eggs, such as in the female genital system and male prostate glands.^4,5 The parasite is also known to affect multiple organs in the human host, including the appendix.³ Here we report a rare case of acute schistosomal peritonitis secondary to perforated appendix.

CASE REPORT

A 33 year-old male presented at Bugando Medical Centre (Mwanza region, Western Tanzania) with complains of intense abdominal pain that had started seven days earlier. He reported gradual onset of pain localized in right iliac fossa for the first three days, which became generalized. He experienced low grade fever accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The patient denied any obvious signs of constipation, diarrhea, melena, hematochezia, hematuria, dysuria, rashes, or joint symptoms.

Physical examination performed at hospital admission demonstrated that the patient was febrile (39ºC), not jaundiced and not pale. His blood pressure was 110/60 mmHg, pulse rate 78 bpm and respiratory rate 18/minute. The abdomen was not distended, silent with rebound tenderness and guarding. There was no obvious organomegaly. Other systems were essentially normal. Blood laboratory data showed hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of 10.7 g/dL, leukocytosis, negative urinalysis, normal urea, electrolytes and liver function.

Radiological findings revealed gas under the diaphragm and multiple air fluid levels. A diagnostic hypothesis of peritonitis secondary to perforated intestine was made, and the patient was prepared for an emergency laparotomy.

During appendicectomy and abdominal lavage, he was noted to have an acutely inflamed appendix, foul smelling peritoneal fluid and matted bowels, and a perforated gangrenous appendix. The patient made an uneventful post operative recovery and was discharged after four days. Macroscopic examination of the appendix specimen showed its surface covered by fibropurulent materials, gangrenous and perforated. Histological evaluation was carried out on sections of paraffin blocks using the usual hematoxylin and eosin staining technique. Histopathological analysis showed acute purulent appendicitis characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, neutrophils, eosinophils (Figure 1) and numerous eggs of S. mansoni in the submucosal wall (Figure 2).

After histological report, stool and urine samples were collected and parasitological examination revealed eggs of S. mansoni in stool sample. The patient received a single dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg), pending an outpatient review two weeks later, and recovered without any sequels.

DISCUSSION

Here we report a rare case of acute peritonitis secondary to schistosomal appendicitis. Schistosomiasis of the appendix was first described by Turner in 1909.⁶ Since then, there have been reports of acute schistosomal granulamotous appendicitis from endemic populations in South America and Africa, as well as from travelers and migrants returning from endemic areas.^3,7-12 In a retrospective study from Nigeria, in 27 (2.3%) of more than 1,000 cases of appendicitis, schistosome eggs were seen in histological sections.⁸ About 56% of these cases were caused by S. mansoni, 26% by S. haematobium, and 19% by S. mansoni/S. haematobium coinfection.⁸ In another study from Nigeria, in 6.2% of appendicitis cases, chronic S. haematobium infection was evident.¹³ A more recent study also from Nigeria reported schistosomiasis of the appendix in 4.2% of surgical specimens.¹⁴

In contrast, peritoneal involvement in schistosomiasis seems to be a very rare event. Gali⁸ reported only one case of generalized peritonitis in 27 cases of schistosomal appendicitis. A recent case of schistosomal peritonitis with eggs found in the greater omentum and peritoneal cavity has been reported in an Egyptian migrant to Greece.¹⁵

The role of S. mansoni in the pathogenesis of appendicitis has long been debated and it is not fully understood if schistosomiasis of the appendix in fact induces acute appendicitis. One author hypothesized that ischemic changes due to egg emboli is responsible for reduced mucosal immunity, subsequently leading to bacterial infection.¹⁰ Others proposed that chronic schistosomal granulamotous inflammation, fibrosis, narrowing of the lumen and swelling of bowel wall may lead to secondary obstruction and acute appendicitis.^9,14

A critical appraisal of the association between schistosomiasis and acute appendicitis is reported from the histological findings characterized by infiltrations of the submucosal and the muscular layer by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, in addition to the presence of schistosome eggs.¹⁴ In the case of schistosomiasis mansoni, intramuscular oviposition (submucosa) may cause an obstructive type of appendicitis with a greater risk of perforation.³ Serosal involvement causes inflammation and the formation of adhesions.³

Confirmation of schistosomal involvement of organs is usually made by histological diagnosis, due to the absence of pathognomonic clinical or operative findings. Thus, a clear communication between surgeons and pathologists for management of patients with suspected appendicitis is required for proper management.

The presented case shows that intestinal schistosomiasis can cause acute peritonitis, which should be considered a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with features of appendicitis in schistosomiasis-endemic areas. In non-endemic areas, physicians need to be aware of these atypical presentations in migrant populations and travelers. Appendectomy specimens should be sent for histological review so that patients can benefit from full investigations and specific antiparasitic treatment.

Submitted on: 03/04/2010

Approved on: 03/20/2010

We declare no conflict of interest.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  14 Feb 2011
• Date of issue
  Dec 2010

History

• Received
  04 Mar 2010
• Accepted
  20 Mar 2010