Unexpected uterine microhabitat of Schistosoma infection: a migrant case of female genital schistosomiasis in Europe.
Antonio Beltrán-Rosel, Jorge Ligero-López, Lia Ornat-Clemente et al.
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Case in brief
A 30-year-old woman from Côte d'Ivoire, previously living in Mali, presented in Spain with primary infertility. Initial evaluations indicated a large leiomyoma, which was surgically removed. Unexpectedly, histopathology revealed Schistosoma eggs in the myometrium. Despite negative initial serology and urine tests, further investigations confirmed Schistosoma haematobium infection. The patient was treated with praziquantel, resulting in negative follow-up samples.
What made this case unusual
The case illustrates the unexpected finding of Schistosoma eggs in a myometrial specimen, highlighting the need for thorough histopathological examination in infertility cases.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider female genital schistosomiasis in migrant women with unexplained infertility, especially when initial diagnostic tests are negative.
Why it matters
This case emphasizes the limitations of routine diagnostic methods for schistosomiasis and the importance of histopathological analysis in identifying overlooked infections.