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Paragonimiasis
Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic disease caused by several species of lung flukes belonging to genus '' Paragonimus''. Infection is acquired by eating crustaceans such as crabs and crayfishes which host the infective forms called metacercariae, or by eating raw or undercooked meat of mammals harboring the metacercariae from crustaceans. More than 40 species of ''Paragonimus'' have been identified; 10 of these are known to cause disease in humans. The most common cause of human paragonimiasis is '' P. westermani'', the oriental lung fluke. About 22 million people are estimated to be affected yearly worldwide. It is particularly common in East Asia. Paragonimiasis is easily mistaken for other diseases with which it shares clinical symptoms, such as tuberculosis and lung cancer. Life cycle Not all ''Paragonimus'' species infect humans. However, all of them target mammals as their final (definitive) hosts. In mammalian lung tissue, the adult flukes live as encapsulated pairs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paragonimus Westermani
''Paragonimus westermani'' (Japanese lung fluke or oriental lung fluke) is the most common species of lung fluke that infects humans, causing paragonimiasis. Human infections are most common in eastern Asia and in South America. Paragonimiasis may present as a sub-acute to chronic inflammatory disease of the lung. It was discovered by Coenraad Kerbert (1849–1927) in 1878. Causative agent More than 30 species of trematodes (flukes) of the genus ''Paragonimus'' have been reported to infect animals and humans. Among the more than 10 species reported to infect humans, the most common is ''Paragonimus westermani'', the oriental lung fluke. Morphology In size, shape, and color, ''Paragonimus westermani'' resembles a coffee bean when alive. Adult worms are 7.5 mm to 12 mm long and 4 mm to 6 mm wide. The thickness ranges from 3.5 mm to 5 mm. The skin of the worm ( tegument) is thickly covered with scalelike spines. The oral and ventral suckers are simi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
