HUMAN GNATHOSTOMIASIS IN MYANMAR: A REVIEW OF LOCAL LITERATURE

Gnathostomiasis is a fish-borne nematodiasis endemic mainly in Asia and Latin America. Although the disease is still highly prevalent in some countries of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Lao PDR, the status of gnathostomiasis in Myanmar remains hitherto unknown. We have made an extensive literature review on gnathostomiasis cases in Myanmar. Although case reports on gnthostomiasis in Myanmar are very few in international journals, we have found over 10 indigenous gnathostomiais cases in Myanmar published in local medical journals, the majority of which are ocular gnathostomiasis cases. Thus, more hidden cases of cutaneous and visceral gnathostomiasis should exist in Myanmar.