Lung Parasites

Cestodes

Human Echinocococcosis (hydatidosis or hydatid disease) is caused by

Embryonated eggs in feces

Echinococcus granulosus infective stage

Hydatid cysts in liver, lungs, etc

Echinococcus granulosus diagnostic stage

Remains silent for years before enlarging cysts cause symptoms in affected organs
Hepatic involvement - can result in abdominal pain, mass in hepatic area and biliary duct obstructions
Pulmonary Symptoms - produces chest pain, cough, hemoptysis

Clinical Presenation of Echinococcus granulosus (hepatic, pulmonary)

Worldwide, frequently in rural, grazing areas where dogs ingest organs from infected animals

Geographical Distribution of Echinococcus granulosus

Serology testing: indirect hemagglutination (IHA), indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and EIA test

Lab diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus is done via

Chemotherapy, cyst puncture and PAIR (percutaneous aspiration, injection of chemicals, and reaspiration)

Treatment of Echniococcus granulosus

Nematode (roundworm)

Strongyloides stercoralis is caused by

Filariform larvae

Strongyloides stercoralis infective stage

Rhabditiform larvae

Strongyloides stercoralis diagnostic stage

Frequently asymptomatic
GI Symptoms - abdominal pain and diarrhea
Pulmonary Symptoms including Loeffler Syndrome - Fever, malaise, cough, wheezing, and
dyspnea
Dermatologic symptoms - urticarial rashes in buttocks and waist

Strongyloides stercoralis clinical presentation (GI, pulmonary, derm)

Microscopic ID of larvae in stool or duodenal fluid

Diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis

Ivermectin (first line) or albendazole (alternative)

Treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis

Trematode (fluke)

Paragonimus westermani is a species of

Metacercariae

Infective stage of Paragonimus westermani

Unembryonated eggs

Diagnostic stage of Paragonimus Westermani

Diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, cough, urticaria, hepatosplenomegaly, pulmonary abnormalities and eosinophilia

Clinical Presentation of Paragonimus Westermani in acute phase (Invasion & Migration)

cough, expectoration of discolored sputum, hemoptysis, and CXR abnormalities

Clinical Presentation of Paragonimus Westermani in chronic phase

Americas, Africa, SE Asia

Geographic distribution of Paragonimus Westermani

Morphology of eggs in stool or sputum

Lab diagnosis of Paragonimus Westermani

Praziquantel (Pregnancy category B) or Triclabendazole (not first choice and not FDA approved)

Treatment of Paragonimus Westermani