Myelitis in a Young Patient With Testing Supportive for Both Angiostrongylus and Schistosoma Infection.

Abstract

Schistosoma and Angiostrongylus are both parasites which can cause central nervous system manifestations in humans. These parasites live in several overlapping geographic areas as well as share several clinical features. Diagnosis and treatment can be difficult given these infections are rare, have non-specific symptoms, and have definitive testing that takes days to weeks to result. We present a case of myelitis secondary to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection with false-positive Schistosoma serologies complicating the diagnostic process in which the patient had an excellent clinical response to treatment with steroids and antiparasitic agents.