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Background Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease that has multiple symptoms, with pulmonary types being common. According to our clinical practices, the pleural effusion of our patients is full of fibrous contents. Drainage, praziquantel, and triclabendazole are recommended for the treatment, but when fibrous contents are contained in pleural effusion, surgical interventions are necessary. However, no related reports have been noted. Herein, we present a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis treated by thoracoscopy. Case summary A 12-year-old girl presented to our outpatient clinic complaining of shortness of breath after exercise for several days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed positivity for antibodies against Paragonimus westermani, serological test showed eosinophilia, and moderate left pleural effusion and calcification were detected on computed tomography (CT). She was diagnosed with paragonimiasis, and praziquantel was prescribed. However, radiography showed an egg-sized nodule in the left pleural cavity during follow-up. She was then admitted to our hospital again. The serological results were normal except slight eosinophilia. CT scan displayed a cystic-like node in the lower left pleural cavity. The patient underwent a thoracoscopic mass resection. A mass with a size of 6 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm adhered to the pleura was resected. The pathological examination showed that the mass was composed of non-structured necrotic tissue, indicating a granuloma. The patient remainded asymptomatic and follow-up X-ray showed complete removal of the mass. Conclusion This case highlights that thoracoscopic intervention is necessary when fibrous contents are present on CT scan or chest roentgenogram to avoid later fibrous lump formation in patients with pulmonary paragonimiasis.

A 43-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with peripheral blood hypereosinophilia and abnormal chest X-ray findings. Her pleural effusion revealed hypereosinophilia and a low glucose level. She was diagnosed with pulmonary paragonimiasis based on an elevated antibody level of Paragonimiasis westermani. Although she had no medical history of allergic disorders, a pulmonary function test revealed bronchodilator reversibility. After praziquantel therapy, her symptoms, hypereosinophilia in peripheral blood, and pleural effusion were improved. A repeated pulmonary function test after praziquantel therapy showed a negative bronchodilator response. Pulmonary paragonimiasis may induce bronchodilator reversibility during the acute phase of infection.

A pulmonary nodule is a common radiological finding encountered in routine medical practice. It needs to be extensively evaluated as the differential diagnosis can range from sinister malignancies to fully treatable infectious causes. Here, we present a rare case of pulmonary paragonimiasis presenting as pulmonary nodule. This case report aims to sensitise the medical practitioner regarding pulmonary paragonimiasis which is completely treatable but carries a high risk of being under diagnosed.

A 43-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with peripheral blood hypereosinophilia and abnormal chest X-ray findings. Her pleural effusion revealed hypereosinophilia and a low glucose level. She was diagnosed with pulmonary paragonimiasis based on an elevated antibody level of Paragonimiasis westermani. Although she had no medical history of allergic disorders, a pulmonary function test revealed bronchodilator reversibility. After praziquantel therapy, her symptoms, hypereosinophilia in peripheral blood, and pleural effusion were improved. A repeated pulmonary function test after praziquantel therapy showed a negative bronchodilator response. Pulmonary paragonimiasis may induce bronchodilator reversibility during the acute phase of infection.

Paragonimiasis is a parasite infection caused by several species of Paragonimus, a trematode that is transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked crabs and that has been found in the subtropical areas of America, Asia and Africa. This infection mainly affects the lungs, causing clinical and radiological manifestations very similar to pulmonary tuberculosis, so it should always be included in the differential diagnosis. We present the case of a 7-year-old school patient, hospitalized with the diagnosis of pulmonary paragonimiasis, who had a favorable evolution after receiving treatment with triclabendazole.

Background: Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic disease caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. Cameroon has five known foci of paragonimiasis. Recently, 2 children from the Manjo health district were diagnosed of paragonimiasis at the near

Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic infection resulting from ingestion of undercooked crustaceans. Whereas uncommon in the United States, Paragonimus species are endemic in North America, South America, Asia, and Africa. Pulmonary symptoms are most com- mon, but cerebral, dermatologic, and abdominal variations are recog- nized. Diagnosis is supported by positive serologic findings and a typical exposure history. Pathologic confirmation by visualization of eggs, however, is preferred. In the subsequent case presentation, we elucidate an instance of pulmonary paragonimiasis mimicking tubercu- losis in a middle-aged Burmese female.

Paragonimiasis or lung fluke infection is one of the neglected tropical parasitic disease which is found worldwide. Several endemic foci have been discovered in the Northeast India. Pulmonary paragonimiasis presenting with haemoptysis is generally mistaken for pulmonary tuberculosis. Herein, we present a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis, which initially presented with haemoptysis and remained undiagnosed for two years. The patient was treated with Praziquantel 25mg/kg thrice daily for two days along with the supportive care. Subsequently, on follow up after three months the patient had improved with no fever and cough.

Pulmonary paragonimiasis is an important zoonotic disease reported from many parts of the world. It is an endemic problem in human population in north-eastern states of India. There seems no report of pulmonary paragonimiasis in canine population from India. The present case describes first report of pulmonary paragonimiasis in a female dog suggesting possibility of this fluke becoming established in canine population in the country. The dog revealed mild coughing with serous nasal discharge. Faecal sample revealed eggs of Paragonimus spp. Treatment with fenbendazole resulted in marked improvement as revealed by clinical signs and chest radiography.

기생충 감염은 소아 인구에게서 드물기 때문에 진단이 어려울 수 있다. 환아는 6개월 동안 간헐적인 상복부 통증과 양손과 양측 팔 모두에 발생한 홍반성 발진을 동반한 늑막 삼출을 주소로 내원하였다. 환아는 검사상 혈청 호산구증가와 현저한 삼출성, 호산구성 흉막삼출액이 확인되었다. 동시에 폐렴 미코플라스마에 대한 높은 항체가 때문에 항생제 치료를 받았으나 흉막삼출은 호전되지 않았다. 환아의 분변에서 시행한 기생충 알의 검사상 음성이었으나 혈청 및 흉막삼출액의 기생충 특이 항원에 대한 면역 효소측정법에서 폐흡충 특이 IgG에 대해 양성을 보였다. Praziquantel의 치료 후 호흡기 증상, 흉수 및 피부 증상이 호전되었다. 이에 만성 복통과 홍반성 발진을 주소로 내원한 소아 환자에서 폐흡충에 의한 흉막삼출액을 진단 및 치료하였기에 보고하는 바이다.

Paragonimiasis is a foodborne parasitic zoonosis caused by lung fluke species of the genus Paragonimus. The Paragonimus westermani is the most common human pathogen in Asian countries. In northeast India, Paragonimus heterotremus has been documented as the only human pathogen in the earlier literature. In India, P. westermani infection in humans remained undetermined. Herein, we report a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis due to P. westermani in an adult female in Manipur. The diagnosis was made by morphological and molecular characterisation of the eggs in the sputum. This is the first confirmed case of paragonimiasis due to P. westermani in India.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is useful in cancer diagnosis owing to its sensitivity to the differences in glucose metabolic rate between benign and malignant diseases, especially in the lung. One pitfall in PET imaging of lung disease, however, is the overlap in metabolic rate of inflammatory and neoplastic entities. Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic disease that causes the pulmonary and pleural inflammation. We present two cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis that showed high uptake suggestive of tumor on FDG-PET CT images, both confirmed on histopathology by visualization of Paragonimus westermani eggs in the involved tissues.

우리나라에서 폐흡충증은 1960년대 까지만 해도 매우 흔하여 폐의 공동 병변을 일으키는 주요 감염 원인이었으나 현재는 매우 드문 감염병이 되었다. 16세 남자가 갑자기 열감, 기침, 객혈이 발생하여 가슴 X-선 영상검사를 실시하였고, 공기음영(air bubble)을 포함하고 있는 결절과 간유리 음영으로 세균학적으로 결핵균이 확인되지 않았으나 결핵으로 진단받고 항결핵제로 치료를 받았다. 항결핵제 치료 후에 더 이상 기침 등의 증상은 호소하지 않았으나 가슴 X-선 영상검사와 가슴 컴퓨터단층촬영검사에서 병변이 악화되어 비디오 흉강경 구역절제술을 실시 받았으며 조직검사에서 폐흡충란이 발견되어 폐흡충증으로 진단된 증례를 경험하여 보고하고자 한다.

Background: Pulmonary paragonimiasis is a subacute to chronic inflammatory disease of the lung caused by lung flukes that result in prolonged inflammation and mechanical injury to the bronchi. However, there are few reports on the bronchoscopic findings of pulmonary paragonimiasis. This report describes the bronchoscopic findings of pulmonary paragonimiasis. Methods: The bronchosocpic findings of 30 patients (20 males, median age 50 years) with pulmonary paragonimiasis between May 1995 and December 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The diagnoses were based on a positive serologic test results for Paragonimus-specific antibodies in 13 patients (43%), or the detection of Paragonimus eggs in the sputum, bronchial washing fluid, or lung biopsy specimens in 17 patients (57%). The bronchoscopic examinations revealed endobronchial lesions in 17 patients (57%), which were located within the segmental bronchi in 10 patients (59%), lobar bronchi in 6 patients (35%) and main bronchi in 1 patient (6%). The bronchoscopic characteristics of endobronchial lesions were edematous swelling of the mucosa (16/17, 94%) and mucosal nodularity (4/17, 24%), accompanied by bronchial stenosis in 16 patients (94%). Paragonimus eggs were detected in the bronchial washing fluid of 9 out of the 17 patients with endobronchial lesions. The bronchial mucosal biopsy specimens showed evidence of chronic inflammation with eosinophilic infiltration in 6 out of 11 patients (55%). However, no adult fluke or ova were found in the bronchial tissue. Conclusion: Bronchial stenosis with mucosal changes including edematous swelling and mucosal nodularity is the most common bronchoscopic finding of pulmonary paragonimiasis.

We report a case of paragonimiasis involving a 12-year-old Latin American boy. The diagnosis was made by fine-needle aspiration biopsy of a pulmonary nodule. Identification of the species by morphometric analysis of the eggs indicated that the infection was caused by Paragonimus mexicanus .

Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by the genus Paragonimus. Fresh water snails, crabs, and crayfish are the first and second intermediate hosts, respectively. Humans acquire this infection by ingesting uncooked/undercooked crustaceans. Laboratory diagnosis of Paragonimiasis is done by demonstration of ova in the sputum/feces/pleural fluid or by serology. A case of pulmonary Paragonimiasis is presented herewith; the patient having been diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis earlier. The aim of this presentation is to highlight this entity so that it is considered in the differential diagnosis in a case of hemoptysis.

Deep sputum samples from 2400 school children aged 5-14 years old, in eight districts in Cross river basin, Nigeria were examined for Paragonimus ova. A total of 246 sites along streams and rivers including the Cross River itself were also surveyed for snail and crab intermediate hosts of Paragonimus, and their infection rates were determined. The overall prevalence of pulmonary Paragonimus infection in schoolchildren in the area was 14.4% (346/2400). Six foci of the infection were identified at Oban, Ugep, Ikom, Obubra, Yala, and Ogoja districts. The intensity of the infections (number of ova per 5ml. Sputum) were generally low. Of the 346 infected school children, 249 (72.0%) had less than 50 ova of Paragonimus in 5ml sputum, and 74 (21.4%) had between 50 and 100 ova of Paragonimus in 5ml sputum, while 23 (6.6%) had over 100 ova of Paragonimus in 5ml sputum. Two snail hosts of Paragonimus were encountered in our survey. These were Potadoma freethii and Afropomus balanoides. P. freethii was more widely distributed than A. balanoides and was the only snail species naturally infected with Paragonimus (6.1%). Three crab species associated with Paragonimiasis transmission were also collected. These were Sudanonautes aubryi, Sudanonautes africanus and Sudanonautes pelli. These three crab species were widely distributed in the basin. However, only S. africanus (5.0%) was found to harbour Paragonimus infection. The results of this study indicate the growing public health threat posed by Paragonimiasis in Cross River basin in Nigeria. A combination of chemotherapy, to bring relief to persons already afflicted by the disease, and public health education related to Paragonimiasis transmission to increase awareness of the infection in the area is recommended as the best approach to check the infection in the basin. Key Words: Pulmonary Paragonimiasis, Cross River Basin, Distribution, Intermediate Hosts, Prevalence [Mary Slessor Jnl of Medicine Vol.3(1) 2003: 5-12]

This study reports a model of pulmonary paragonimiasis in outbred Wistar rats using the Indian strain of Paragonimus heterotremus isolated from the fresh water crab Barytelphusa lugubris collected from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Feeding metacercariae to the rats led to encapsulated adult worms in the lungs and pleural cavity. Some flukes migrated to the skeletal muscles of the hosts where they remained underdeveloped as immature flukes.

When the juvenile worms of the genus Paragonimus migrate and cause defects on the surface of the visceral pleura, pneumothorax can develop. A 34-year-old woman was admitted for pneumothorax with which was developed after she ate raw fish and crab. A 21-year-old male soldier presented with recurrent bilateral pneumothorax without eosinophilia, caused after drinking stream water frequently. In both patients, paragonimiasis was suspected from the computed tomography scan and confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test of the pleural fluid. When pneumothorax develops in patients who have ingested raw fresh-water crab or stream water, paragonimiasis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis.

To the Editor, First of all, I appreciate your interest on my report for pneumothorax induced by pulmonary paragonimiasis. Paragonimiasis is not common cause of pneumothorax in Korea, too. As Im et al. [1] reported, pneumothorax is a part of disease spectrum associated with paragonimiasis, which can be developed when the larvae penetrate the visceral pleura and enter the lung. The reason that pneumothorax is not detected in cases of paragonimiasis in Tailand can be attributed to the different causative Paragonimus species or to the time at detection of disease related to paragonimiasis, as Kanpittaya et al. [2] noted. Thanks again for your comment.

Here, we report a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis that was improved with initial anti-tuberculosis (TB) therapy but confused with reactivated pulmonary TB. A 53-year-old Chinese female presented with a persistent productive cough with foul smelling phlegm and blood streaked sputum. Radiologic findings showed subpleural cavitary consolidation in the right upper lobe (RUL). Bronchoscopic and cytological examination showed no remarkable medical feature. She was diagnosed with smear-negative TB, and her radiologic findings improved after receiving a 6-month anti-TB therapy. The chest CT scans, however, obtained at 4 months after completion of anti-TB therapy showed a newly developed subpleural consolidation in the RUL. She refused pathologic confirmation and was re-treated with anti-TB medication. Nevertheless, her chest CT scans revealed newly developed cavitary nodules at 5 months after re-treatment. She underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection; the pathological examination reported that granuloma caused by Paragonimus westermani. Paragonimiasis should also be considered in patients assessed with smear-negative pulmonary TB.

As the clinical and radiological features of pulmonary paragonimiasis are similar to those of pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer, the diagnosis of pulmonary paragonimiasis is very difficult and a biopsy is needed for the diagnosis. Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) using conventional bronchoscopy is frequently used for nodal sampling, but its diagnostic accuracy is questionable due to the blind approach for targeting lymph nodes. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided (EBUS)-TBNA has high diagnostic value due to the direct visualization of lymph nodes, and thereby improves nodal diagnosis accuracy. This paper reports the first patient we experienced with pulmonary paragonimiasis mimicking lung cancer diagnosed by EBUS-TBNA. (Korean J Med 2013;84:423-427)

An ELISA test was developed to detect Paragonimus-specific antibodies, including IgG subclasses, using P. mexicanus crude water-soluble antigens. The test was standardized to detect antibodies in sera of Ecuadorian patients with pulmonary paragonimiasis and negative controls from the endemic area. The detected mean levels of IgG (0.753, SEM: 0.074) and IgM (0.303, SEM: 0.033) were significantly elevated (P

We present the CT findings of pulmonary paragonimiasis in a 9-year-old girl. It appeared as a large cystic mass with an air-fluid level and simulated a lung abscess. Communication with a segmental bronchus was demonstrated well on a CT scan obtained after aspiration.

폐흡충증은 예전에 비해서 발생 빈도가 감소 하였으나, 현재도 산발적으로 발생하고 있다. 폐흡충증은 민물 게나 민물 가재 등의 섭취력이 있고, 혈액검사상 호산구 증가증이 있는 경우 의심을 해보아야 한다. 객담이나 대변 검사상 충란을 발견할 경우 폐흡충증을 진단할 수 있으나 실제로 발견되는 경우는 40% 미만이므로 폐흡충증이 의심된다면 방사선학적 및 혈청학적 방법에 의해 폐흡충증을 확인하는 것이 필요하다. 치료로는 praziquantel 25 mg/kg씩 1일 3회, 이틀간 투여하는 1회 치료 과정으로 비교적 좋은 예후를 보인다. 그러나 본 증례처럼 1회 치료로 불충분하여 재발하는 경우가 있으므로 치료 후에도 정기적인 추적 관찰이 필요하겠다. 또한 재발 및 재치료율을 낮추기 위한 연구와 재발 환자의 치료 기간 정립이 필요할 것으로 생각된다. 저자들은 좌측 흉수를 주소로 내원하여 폐흡충에 의한 흉수로 진단 받은 35세 환자에서 praziquantel25 mg/kg씩 1일 3회, 2일간 투여하여 호전 보였으나, 이후에 3차례나 재발하여 총 4차례 치료 과정을 반복하여 호전된 증례를 경험하였기에 문헌과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

Paragonimiasis mainly occurs by ingestion of raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish. In our country, the prevalence of paragonimiasis was high until late 1960s due to eating habits, but after the 1970s the prevalence of the disease has markedly decreased and now the disease is rarely seen. As the clinical and radiological features as well as the laboratory findings are similar to that of pulmonary tuberculosis, the differential diagnosis of pulmonary paragonimiasis is very difficult. We experienced a case of a patient with pulmonary paragonimiasis who was treated as having pulmonary tuberculosis.