Paragonimiasis.

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Zoonotic Diseases
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Paragonimiasis is a zoonotic disease caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus.
• Infection typically occurs through the consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish containing metacercariae.
• An alternative infection route involves ingesting raw meat from mammalian paratenic hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the etiology, transmission, and geographical distribution of human paragonimiasis.
• To highlight the common pulmonary manifestation and potential for ectopic locations of Paragonimus infections.
• To identify the primary species responsible for human infections in different regions.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on Paragonimus species and human infections.
• Analysis of epidemiological data on the geographical distribution of paragonimiasis.
• Identification of different transmission routes and clinical manifestations.

Main Results:

• The most common form of human paragonimiasis involves adult worms in lung cysts, typically caused by P. westermani and P. heterotremus.
• Worms can migrate to other organs, leading to ectopic paragonimiasis, which is frequent with the P. skrjabini complex.
• Human infections are endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with specific species prevalent in different areas.

Conclusions:

• Paragonimiasis is a significant zoonotic disease with diverse geographical and etiological profiles.
• Understanding transmission routes, including consumption of raw meat, is crucial for prevention.
• Ectopic infections highlight the systemic potential of Paragonimus parasites, necessitating broad diagnostic considerations.