Paragonimus

westermani

LYNN MARIE P. SIMPORIOS

Reporter
 General
Information

Life Cycle

Distribution

Paragonimus
westermani Risk Factors

Diseases &
Diagnosis

Treatment/
Prevention
 General Information
OS: oral sucker
Belongs to the genus CE: cecum
Paragonimus OV: ovary
TE: testes
It is also known as EB: excretory bladder
the oriental lung UT: uterus
fluke AC: acetabulum
(ventral sucker)
It infects humans
causing
paragonimiasis

They are hermaphroditic, with a

lobed ovary located anterior to
two branching testes. Like all
members of the Trematoda, they
possess oral and ventral suckers.
Life Cycle
 Distribution
Paragonimus spp. are
distributed throughout
America, Africa and
southeast Asia.

Paragonimus westermani
is distributed in southeast
Asia and Japan.
 Risk Factors
Specialty dishes in which shellfish are
consumed raw or prepared only in
vinegar, brine, or wine without cooking
play a key role in the transmission of
paragonimiasis.
Diseases and Symptoms
Acute Phase - may be marked by diarrhea,
abdominal pain, fever, cough, urticaria,
hepatosplenomegaly, pulmonary
abnormalities, and eosinophilia.

Chronic Phase - pulmonary manifestations

include cough, expectoration of discolored
sputum, hemoptysis, and chest radiographic
abnormalities.
 Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on microscopic

Morphologic demonstration of eggs in stool or sputum, but
Diagnosis these are not present until 2 to 3 months after
infection.

Antibody detection is useful in light infections and

Antibody in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary
Detection paragonimiasis. Positive reactions, based on
demonstration of an 8-kDa antigen-antibody
band were obtained with serum samples of 96%
of patients with parasitologically confirmed P.
westermani infection.
Treatment & Prevention