Abstract
Lophomoniasis associates with chronic immune compromise and respiratory coinfections: a case report.
Highlights
Lophomonas spp is a pluriflagellated protozoon that has been described as a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) of thermites and cockroaches, where it aids its hosts to digest lignocellulosic materials [1]
It is hypothesized that the temperature and humidity of the respiratory tract (RT) provides adequate conditions for trophozoite excystation [3], which is thought to be the beginning of a respiratory pathology known as lophomoniasis
Hepatic compromise was made evident as high ALP, LDH and GGT levels, and such dysfunction may have been related to the outcome of the case, as the patient died of cardiac failure in association with high very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglyceride levels as well as low high-density lipoproteins levels (HDL) levels
Summary
Lophomonas spp is a pluriflagellated protozoon that has been described as a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) of thermites and cockroaches, where it aids its hosts to digest lignocellulosic materials [1]. It is known that this protozoon is able to encyst itself in order to withstand the atmospheric conditions when it leaves the host’s GI, but it is only speculated that such cysts may be able to infect the human respiratory tract (RT) upon direct inhalation [2], or even by the ingestion of foods that have been contaminated with thermite or cockroach feces. Its correct diagnosis depends upon the microscopic observation of samples of sputum, bronchial brushings or secretions, tracheal aspirates, or bronchoalveolar lavages. In such tests the protozoon appears as unipolarlly pluriflagellated round, ovoid or piriform cells of 20-60μm in length and 12-20μm in width, that have a highly granular cytoplasm and an inconspicuous nucleus [2, 7]. As its life cycle has never been directly observed and documented it is not known if lophomoniasis is communicable among people, or if it is exclusively transmitted by zoonosis
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