Oligochaete worms, as the second largest group of the Annelida, occur in a wide variety of freshwater environments [1,2]. Within this diverse group, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède, 1862 (Oligochaeta: Tubificinae), is one of the most common and abundant aquatic oligochaetes [3,4]. The worm is very small and red. Like all other oligochaetes, the species is a hermaphrodite, with a complex reproductive system. Typically, each body segment possesses 4 bundles of chaetae (chitinous bristles projecting from the body). The chaetae, vary considerably in size and shape between families, and consequently are used extensively in identification [5]. The life cycle of this species includes a stage that involves shedding of eggs into aquatic or moist environments with subsequent development into earthworms [6]. These worms are capable of producing high population densities in paddy fields, eutrophic lakes, and rivers [7,8]. Thus, bathing, picnicking, or field working without protection measures may bring the potential risk of ingress.

Along with helminths and parasitic nematodes, occasional cases of non-parasitic worm infections (caused by Enchytraeus sp., Lumbricillus lineatus, and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) have been reported in humans [9,10]. However, aquatic oligochaete human infections have not been reported in China up till now.

In this study, we are reporting a case of oligochaete nasal infection in a 25-year-old Chinese man. This is the first observed report of such case in China. After detailed microscopic examinations and molecular identification, the infected specimen was identified as L. hoffmeisteri. The infectious agent was eliminated and was no longer detectable in the patient’s nasal cavities after treatment with Zentel^® (albendazole). These data will assist clinicians to be aware of this diagnosis and properly guide preventable measures to those who are in risk (such as aquaculture farmers, fishery workers, and ornamental fish hobbyists).

The patient was a 25-year-old male residing in Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province, China employed by a coalmine machinery factory. He initially presented with severe nasal itching, rhinorrhea, and continuous sneezing followed by a nose bleed 2 days prior to consultation. Mucosal damage to Kiesselbach’s area (on the antero-inferior part of the nasal septum), was diagnosed by nasal endoscopy. High neutrophil levels were observed in the patient’s blood. The worms extracted from the nasal discharge of the patient were identified by using morphological and molecular methods.

The observed worm length was 15–45 mm, and worm width was 0.6–0.8 mm (Fig. 1A). The prostomium of the observed worms was cone-shaped, and contained about 110 proglottids (Fig. 1B). Long and thin bifid chaetae with a curved distal end were observed on the dorsal pre- and post-clitellar regions (Fig. 1C, D). The ratio of the length of the dorsal bifid chaetae to the ventral chaetae was approximately 1.15. The penile sheath was long and tubular, and the length to width ratio ranged from 10.3 to 11.3 (Fig. 1E). The morphological characteristics of the species were consistent with a previously published description of L. hoffmeisteri [4].

Furthermore, genomic DNA was extracted from individual worms using a genomic DNA purification kit (Tiangen, China) for amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) region (Fig. 2). The sequences obtained showed 99% identity with L. hoffmeisteri NCBI GenBank entries (nos. AF360992, AF361103). A neighbor-joining (NJ) tree constructed from SSU sequences grouped the worm isolated from the patient into the same cluster as L. hoffmeisteri (Fig. 2).

Together, the morphological characteristics and molecular data confirmed that the species isolated from the patient was L. hoffmeisteri. Fortunately, the oligochaete worms were no longer detectable in the patient’s nasal cavities following treatment with 400 mg Zentel^® (albendazole) and Yunnan Baiyao (also called Yunnan Paiyao [11], a hemostatic powdered medicine) once daily for 6 days. The former treatments also resulted in patient’s symptom resolution.

More than 10 species of Limnodrilus have previously been described [12]. Of those, L. hoffmeisteri is the best known and is considered to be the dominant species of the genus [13]. This species is widely distributed in freshwater bodies in China. Although uncommon, the infection can occur in people after exposure to contaminated water. In the present study, for the first time we have reported the case of L. hoffmeisteri infection in the nasal cavity of a Chinese man. As a result of this study, total 444 live red worms were isolated and examined from the nasal discharge of the patient by the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University. Measurements of L. hoffmeisteri, including the body and penile sheath size, prostomium shape, and the ratio of the length of the dorsal bifid chaetae to the ventral chaetae, were performed. The observed measurements for these species-specific parameters were consistent with previous descriptions [12]. Molecular data further confirmed the morphological identification.

Occasionally such worms are obtained from humans as pseudo-parasites. Blakemore et al. [10] reported 2 independent cases of oligochaete recovered from the vagina of Korean women. The specimens were identified as microdrile tubificid L. hoffmeisteri Claparède, 1862 (Tubificidae) and megadrile dichogastrid Dichogaster bolaui Michaelsen, 1891 (Octochaetidae), respectively. In our study, we demonstrated a case of human nasal infection with L. hoffmeisteri in China. However, the exact route of infection remains unclear. The likely source of infection of the Chinese patient was fish bait used by the patient to feed domestically maintained tropical fish. It is likely that finger-to-nose contact with the fish bait gave rise to the associated infection. A second potential infection source may be a local reservoir used by the patient for recreational purposes 6 months prior to the infection.

Such opportunistic infection by L. hoffmeisteri occurs more frequently in individuals who are exposed to aquatic environments through labor occupation or leisure activities, usually with skin or mucosal lesions, paresthesia or itching at the ingress site, as well as associated systemic manifestations [9]. Accurate identification of pathogenic agents of these opportunistic infections is critical for the proper selection of clinical complementary tests and detailed anamnesis [14]. To summarize, this is the first report of nasal infection with L. hoffmeisteri in a human in China. This L. hoffmeisteri nasal infection can serve as a reminder that oligochaete worms can result in human infections. This also demonstrates that appropriate hygiene precautions are important during field working and leisure activities.