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Paragonimus kellicotti: Difference between revisions

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Paragonimus kellicotti is a species under the genus Paragonimus. This species is commonly known as the "North American Lung Fluke". This species of paragonimus has an intricate life cycle, and although its name may suggest that it is only a health concern in north America, it is also prominent in southeast Asia and China.

Morphology

Infection

Infections of p. kellicotti affect 21 million people world-wide. However, humans rarely become infected in North America. The frequent victums of this infection in North America are small animals that feed on crayfish, such as otters, skunks, and minks. P. kellicotti is a food-borne trematode infection. Humans become infected with the parasite by eating raw or undercooked crayfish meant that contains the parasite larvae. These infections are common in sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas. After the parasite has been ingested, it will travel from the intestines until it reaches the lungs.

Symptoms of Infection

There are several diagnostic symptoms of a lung fluke infection. These include a cough, fever and weight loss. Pleural effusions, a condition in which a surplus of fluid accumulates around the lungs, is another symptom of an infection. P. Kellicotti infection may sometimes be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. However, a lung fluke infection is differentiated from tuberculosis by increased eosinophils in the blood and pleural fluid.

Treatment

A p. kellicottii infection has easy treatment. Treatment consists oral medication of praziquantel over the course of to days.