Paragonimus Research Articles

Histochemical studies of glycosidase activity in juveniles and adults of the lung fluke Paragonimus.

Glycosidase activities in the adults and juveniles of the lung fluke Paragonimus ohirai and P. westermani adults were demonstrated histochemically. For comparative studies, histochemical examination was also made on the adults of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. The enzymes examined were N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31), beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) and beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21). The distribution of beta-glucosaminidase was similar in juveniles and adults. Strong reaction sites for the enzyme were the caecal brush border, tegument, subtegumental cells and tests. In contrast, no staining reaction occurred in the caeca of F. hepatica, although the tegument and parenchymal cells were weakly stained. beta-glucuronidase activity was associated only with the luminal surface of the caeca in the juveniles. However, luminal contents also appeared stained and this might suggest that the activity in the caeca is not endogenous. beta-galactosidase was localized in the caeca, sub-tegmental cells and tegument in both juveniles and adults. No reaction occurred for the other two enzymes, alpha- and beta-glucosidase.

A Study On The Structure Of Clonorchis Sinensis, A Liver Fluke: IV. Probable Functions Of The Laurer's Canal.

A study on the function of the Laurer's canal of Clonorchis sinensis was conducted with help of the light microscope, the transmission electron microscope, and the scanning electron microscope. Some selected sexual organs concerning with the passages of the spermatozoa and the eggs were obseved in detail. The conclusion of this study is that the Laurer's canal may be the copulatory organ of the female reproductive system as Miyazaki et al. suggested in case of lung flukes.

Studies on the geographical distribution of the lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani (Kerbert, 1878) in the southern Prefectures of the Kinki District, Japan: observations on the incidence of encysted larvae of P. westermani in Geothelphusa dehaani in Higashi-Yoshino area, Nara Prefecture.

During the period from July, 1979 to May, 1981, the freshwater crab, Geothel-phusa dehaani, which is known as the second intermediate host of the lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani, was collected at 16 different localities in Higashi-Yoshino area of Nara Prefecture. A total of 4, 833 crabs were examined for the metacercariae of P. westermani. At the 5 localities, a total of 290 metacercariae of the lung fluke were obtained from 172 (6.1%) of 2, 812 crabs captured. The number of metacercariae per positive crab varied from 1 to 13, with an average of 1.7. No metacercarial infestation was found in 2, 021 crabs at the remaining localities. On the basis of the morphological features of the metacercariae, as well as the adults and their eggs recovered from the experimental cats, all the Paragonimus metacercariae collected in this investigation were identified as the metacercariae of the Original type of P. westermani (Kerbert, 1878) as proposed by Miyazaki. Based on the present results, Higashi-Yoshino area of Nara Prefecture has to be added to the list of prevalent areas of this lung fluke in Japan.

Réinvestigation de l'ultrastructure du spermatozoïde d' Haematoloechus (Trematoda: Haematoloechidae)

en The threadlike spermatozoon of the frog lung fluke, Haematoloechus , shows two patterns of external ornamentation. The first type is anterior and consists of bristles on the membrane that coincide with certain peripheral microtubules. This already exists in the zone of differentiation (ZD) of the young spermatid. The ZD is pinched off from the cytoplasmic mass at the arching-membrane level. The centriolelike body and striated roots are depolymerized. The two centrioles, made up of triplets, and the bristles are retained in the anterior part of the spermatozoon. The second type is more posterior. At this level, the transverse sections of the spermatozoon are asymmetric; only the larger side has peripheral microtubules, arranged in a semicircle around the axoneme, and a thick external crenate layer on its membrane. After several micrometers, this zone ends in an open collar ( collerette ) enclosing the next region of the spermatozoon. Only the part anterior to the collar is motile; on spontaneously breaking off, this region is mobile, although the unbroken spermatozoon is not. After the collar there is a region without microtubules. Then comes the very long middle region with dorsally and ventrally placed microtubules; the nucleus is at the posterior end. This new spermatozoon pattern, with retained ZD and anterior centrioles, resembles what we described earlier in a didymozoid. It probably occurs often in Digenea and perhaps other Platyhelminthes as well.

Pulmonary Paragonimiasis in Laotian Refugee Children

Three Laotian refugee children with chronic pulmonary complaints and findings were found to have pulmonary paragonimiasis during a one-year period in Chicago. These patients ranged from 8 to 11 years of age and the diagnosis was delayed five to six months in two children because of the unfamiliarity of American physicians with signs and symptoms of this disorder. Clinical manifestations included chronic cough for up to two years, apparent hemoptysis in two patients, lack of fever or sweats, and family history negative for tuberculosis. Physical findings included rales and dullness to percussion, clubbing (one patient), and lack of fever or respiratory distress. All three patients showed interstitial infiltrates on chest roentgenogram whereas two had multiple small cystic areas. Moderate eosinophilia was present. Paragonimus westermani ova were found in stools of two patients, in sputum of two patients, and in bronchoscopic specimens in one patient. All patients demonstrated striking clinical and radiologic improvement following treatment with bithionol (50 mg/kg every other day for 15 doses), which was well tolerated. Lung fluke infestation must be considered in Indochinese refugee children with apparent hemoptysis or chronic pulmonary symptoms, and sputum and stool should be examined for P westermani ova.

Study of lung flukes from Philippines: --a preliminary report.

In this paper taxonomic study on paragonimus including their metacercariae obtained from the crabs collected from Sorsogon, Luzon, Philippines and adult worms and ova obtained through animal feeding, with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that there may exist two or more species of lung flukes in Philippines. The occurrence of Semisulcospira libertina in addition to Antemelania dactylus (Lea) as an additional snail host is mentioned for the first time. The chromosome Karyotyping of the adult worms revealed that they belong to the diploid pattern. Electronic scanning showed that the cuticular spines of the Paragonimus from Sorsogon look like "pineapple ears" both in distribution and in appearance, a new finding that has not been recorded before. In the lungs of a white rat killed 290 days after infection, two adult worms were obtained within the solitary cyst. These 2 adult worms measured 4.5 x 2.5 mm and 4.5 x 3.0 mm respectively. Their unusually small size and somewhat round shape suggest that they may be of a different species from those hitherto reported in the Philippines. Clearcut evidence is presented for the first time, demonstrating the occurrence of the phenomenon of cross fertilization (allogamy) of lung flukes.

Mitochondria in the body wall of life cycle stages of lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus, and mitochondrial cytochrome components of the adult worm

1. 1. Mitochondria in the body wall of various stages in the life cycle of Paragonimus were investigated by means of electron microscopy, and cytochrome components of the adult mitochondria by spectrophotometry at − 196°C. 2. 2. Large numbers of mitochondria were found in the ova of unembryonated eggs, epidermal cells of miracidia, tegument of cercariae, and tegument, subtegumental cells and parenchymal cells of juvenile and adult worms. Mitochondria of the tegument of rediae and metacercariae are comparatively few in number. 3. 3. Well-developed cristae were observed in the mitochondria of epidermal cells of miracidia, tegument of cercariae, and tegument and subtegumental cells of juvenile and adult worms. Mitochondria possess poorly developed short cristae in the ova of unembryonated eggs, tegument of rediae and metacercariae, and parenchymal cells of juvenile and adult worms. 4. 4. Adult mitochondria were found to contain cytochrome b, c 1 c, aa 3 and b-type cytochromes.

犬における肺吸虫症の一臨床例

犬における肺吸虫症の一臨床例

What is Paragonimus rudis (Diesing, 1850)? Report on a field study in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Paragonimus rudis was found in the lungs of a giant otter Lutra (pteronura) brasiliensis by Natterer in 1828, who dissected the animal in the former capital Mato Grosso (=Vila Bela), Brazil. The flukes were described by Diesing in 1850, and redescribed by Braun in 1901. Both descriptions do not allow to identify the species. Therefore, P. rudis must be regarded a "nomen nudum". Because its rediscovery is desirable with regard to historical reasons and nomenclatoric questions, a field study was performed in Mato Grosso in 1980. Of 354 freshwater crabs from 24 localities collected and examined for parasitic infections, about 25% were found to be infected with 7kinds of trematode larvae, which differed distincly from Paragonimus-metacercariae. The question, whether P. rudis or other lung fluke species do not seem to occur or cannot be found any longer in the area investigated by us, is discussed.

A revision of species of the genus Haematoloechus Looss, 1899 (Trematoda: Haematoloechidae) from Canada and the United States

Previous experimental and field studies have shown that variations within the genus Haematoloechus may result from differences in age and degree of maturity, extent of crowding, species of host, and other factors.Based on these observations, only 6 of the 15 previously known species from Canada and the United States are considered valid. The valid species and their synonyms are as follows: Haematoloechus longiplexus Stafford, 1902; H. breviplexus Stafford, 1902; H. varioplexus Stafford, 1902 (= H. parviplexus, = H. buttensis, = H. similiplexus, = H. floedae, and H. uniplexus); H. kernensis Ingles, 1932 (= H. tumidus); H. medioplexus Stafford, 1902; and H. complexus (Seely, 1906) (= H. coloradensis, = H. confusus, = H. oxyorchis).The existence of three species groups is hypothesized. Haematoloechus longiplexus and H. breviplexus constitute one group, characterized by little geographical variation and a narrow host range. They are typically parasites of Rana catesbeiana and R. clamitans. Haematoloechus varioplexus and H. kernensis constitute the second group. These species have a wider host range and greater variation in characters purported to be specific differences. The third group includes those lung flukes which do not contain extracaecal loops (H. medioplexus and H. complexus). Of these, only H. medioplexus had little geographical variation and was found to occur in a single frog host.

Pleural paragonimiasis in a Southeast Asia refugee.

We report a Laotian patient with pleural paragonimiasis who did not have the usual diagnostic triad for this parasitic disease. He did not have chronic hemoptysis (considered by many to be an "invariable" finding), there were no pulmonary infiltrations, and stool and sputum examinations did not yield Paragonimus ova. The diagnosis was made on the basis of ova found in the pleural fluid. Paragonimiasis pleural effusion did not resolve with bithionol, the drug of choice for pulmonary paragonimiasis, and, as a result, chest tube drainage was required. The difference between pleural paragonimiasis and pulmonary paragonimiasis is that the classic clinical presentation of the latter (hemoptysis, ova in sputum and stools, lung infiltration, etc.) requires an intrapulmonary location on the parasite. A search for ova in the pleural fluid may be the only diagnostic tool for patients suspected of pleural paragonimiasis. With the influx of Southeast Asia refugees, this case report may be of relevance to U.S. physicians involved in the care of patients in whom not all chronic pleuropulmonary diseases are tuberculous.

691 PULMONARY PARAGONIMIASIS IN INDOCHINESE REFUGEE CHILDREN

The high prevalence of tuberculosis in recent Indochinese refugees of all ages is well documented, with 100-fold greater prevalence in 5-14-year-olds compared to others in this age group in the U.S.A. However, other possible etiologies for chronic pulmonary disease must also be considered in such children. During a recent 12-month period, pulmonary paragonimiasis was diagnosed in three 8- to 11-year-old Laotian children living in the Chicago area. Clinical manifestations of illness included lack of fever or sweats, absent family history of TB, chronic cough for 2 weeks to 2 years, and apparent hemoptysis in 2 patients. Physical findings included rales and dullness to percussion (3/3), lack of respiratory distress (3/3), and clubbing (1/3). All patients showed interstitial pulmonary infiltrates on chest x-ray, while 2 had multiple small cystic areas. Moderate eosinophilia ranging from 5-13% (absolute counts from 770-1290/mm3) was present. Paragonimus westermani ova were found in stools of 2 patients. The etiology of pulmonary disease was established by demonstrating P. westermani ova in expectorated sputum (2) or bronchoscopic specimens (1). All patients were treated orally with Bithionol 50 mg/kg every other day for 15 doses, without side effects. Two patients demonstrated clinical and radiologic improvement; one was lost to follow-up. Clinicians must consider lung fluke infestation in refugee children who present with tuberculin-negative chronic pulmonary disease.

Pulmonary Paragonimiasis in Childhood

A 4-year-old Filipino girl, a recent immigrant to Hawaii, had hemoptysis, and a chest roentgenogram disclosed diffuse infiltrates of the right lung. Microscopic examination of a morning gastric aspirate showed numerous golden-brown, operculated ova, and microscopic examination of sputum and stool specimens confirmed these ova to be those of the lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani. She responded favorably to bithionol therapy and was asymptomatic and growing normally 2 1/2 years after therapy.

Epidemiological study of Paragonimus westermani in Wiseong County, Kyungpook Province, Korea.

This survey was undertaken to determine the recent prevalence of lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani, in the three localities of Wiseong county, Kyungpook Province, Korea and to compare the prevalence among the residents in the same areas between 1924 and 1980. The three localities, Ku-seong, Sam-chun, and Um-ji villages (dong) have been known as the endemic areas of Paragonimus westermani. The surveys were made on the general population. They were examined using intradermal test with Paragonimus westermani antigen, and the diagnosis of paragonimiasis was made depending on the positive intradermal reaction. The sputum examination could not be performed beacause the residents were inaccessible. The prevalence of Paragonimus westermani among the residents in the three communities varied from 1.4 % to 7.9 per cent, with an average of 4.0 per cent. Whereas, the average reported by Ichinomiya in 1924 was 4.7 %. There are no significant differences in the sex and age specific rates of infection between 1924 and 1980. With the abundant density of Semisulcospira snails and crayfish in Sam-chun stream and the high rate of infection with Paragonimus westermani among the residents in the village, it is found that Sam-chun village, one of the three localitied in Wiseong county, where Ichinomiya (1924) surveyed, was still the endemic focus of Paragonimus westermani.

Algorithms in the diagnosis and management of exotic diseases. XXI. Liver, intestinal, and lung flukes.

Journal Article Algorithms in the Diagnosis and Management of Exotic Diseases. XXI. Liver, Intestinal, and Lung Flukes Get access K. S. Warren, K. S. Warren Division of Geographic Medicine of the Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar A. A. F. Mahmoud A. A. F. Mahmoud Division of Geographic Medicine of the Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 135, Issue 4, April 1977, Pages 692–696, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/135.4.692 Published: 01 April 1977

Immature Lung Flukes First Found in the Muscle of the Wild Boar in Japan

Immature Lung Flukes First Found in the Muscle of the Wild Boar in Japan

Host-parasite relationships between Paragonimus ohirai and various crabs. I. Morphology of the metacercariae parasitic in Sesarma (Holometopus) dehaani and S. (H.) haematocheir.

According to Miyazaki (1974), 25 species belonging to the genus Paragonimus have been found in the world. In Japan, five species of the lung flukes, viz., P. westermani, P. ohirai, P. iloktsuenensis, P. miyazakii and P. sadoensis have been known up to date. P. ohirai metacercariae are found in the liver, and in the body and leg muscles of the brackish water crabs, Sesarma (Holometopus) dehaani, S. (H.) haematocheir, S. (Sesarma) intermedium, Helice tridens tridens and Chasmagnathus convexus.

A Newly Recognized Mode of Human Infection with the Lung Fluke, Parogonimus westermani (Kerbert 1878)

A Newly Recognized Mode of Human Infection with the Lung Fluke, Parogonimus westermani (Kerbert 1878)

Expermental chemotherapeutic effects of niclofolan (Bayer 9015, Bilevon) on the animals infected with Paragonimus westermani or P. iloktsuenensis.

The new drug niclofolan (bayer 9015, Bilevon), 5,5'-dichloro-2,2'-dihydroxy-3, 3'-dinitrobiphenyl, has been used in the treatment of Paragonimus westermani in dogs and cats and P. iloktsuenensis in rats. It was proved that administration of daily dose of 1.0 mg/kg body weight for 3 days or in 2 doses of 2.0 mg/kg body weight by alternate days were evidently effective for the infected dogs, cats and rats with the lung flukes, and toxic manifestations were not found.

Studies on the lungfluke, Paragonimus iloktsuenensis: V. Host tissue reactions in albino rats

In order to understand the tissue responses of albino rat host against Paragonimus iloktsuenensis infection, the histopathological changes of the spleen and the lungs in 6 experimental groups of rats were observed in relation with the growth, maturation and migration of this lung fluke. Rats of the experimental groups, each group consisted of 5 rats, were infected with the metacercariae of P. iloktsuenensis which were isolated from brackish water crab, Sesarma dehaani, and were kept for 3 days, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 7 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks of infection period. Peripheral blood smear slides for the differential leukocyte count were prepared and also worm collection was completed immediately after the infection period. Paraffin sections of the spleen and the lung tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and methyl-green-pyronin (MGP) stain. Those materials from the experimental groups were examined in comparison with the materials obtained from control group, with special reference to immunologic aspects of host response. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The counts of large pyroninophilic cell (LPC) in the periarterial sheath of spleen were rapidly increased in earlier period of infection, and those of peribronchial lymphatic tissue started to increase after the penetration of lungfluke into the lungs. 2. The LPC counts of both the spleen and the lungs were on the decrease in conjunction with the necrosis of the lung fluke in 14th week of infection. 3. On observing differential leukocyte count of peripheral blood smear, the fluctuation of lymphocyte count was proportional to that of LPC count, and the lymphocyte count was consistently higher than that of normal rats. On the other hand, neutrophil count of experimental group showed reciprocal relation to the LPC counts. 4. The nature and characteristics of pulmonary lesion produced by the P. iloktsuenensis were just the same as those produced by P. westermani. The lesions were represented by thick and fibrosclerotic cavern, granuloma due to eggs, pneumonic process and cellular infiltrations.