[Pleuro-pulmonary paragonimiasis]

Med Mal Infect. 2005 Oct;35(10):476-81. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2005.08.002. Epub 2005 Oct 25.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Paragonimiasis is a food borne zoonosis due to a trematode belonging to the genus Paragonimus. Although present throughout the world, about 90% of the cases occur in Asia where around 20 million people are infected. The parasitic cycle is complex with two different intermediate hosts. Man is infected by ingesting the raw or undercooked flesh of the second host - a freshwater crab or prawn - or possibly of a paratenic mammal host (wild boar), which contains the infective larval stage metacercariae that reaches the lung which is the main target organ. Epidemiological, pathological, and clinical aspects are reviewed. The main symptoms are protracted cough, and recurrent "benign" hemoptysis. Abnormal pleuro-pulmonary imaging features are constant, but protean and non-specific, leading to frequent confusion with tuberculosis. Diagnosis is easily achieved by ova search in the sputum or pleural fluid, or by serology. Evolution is usually considered benign, although not well known. Finally, praziquantel is the effective first choice treatment. Some paradoxical aspects of this disease are underlined such as: underdiagnosis despite a very simple diagnostic procedure, or opposite tendencies according to location, either extinction or re-emergence.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Cooking
  • France / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases / epidemiology
  • Lung Diseases / parasitology*
  • Paragonimiasis / diagnosis
  • Paragonimiasis / drug therapy
  • Paragonimiasis / epidemiology
  • Paragonimiasis / transmission*
  • Paragonimus / growth & development
  • Pleural Diseases / diagnosis
  • Pleural Diseases / drug therapy
  • Pleural Diseases / epidemiology
  • Pleural Diseases / parasitology*
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use*
  • Seafood / parasitology

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Praziquantel