Paragonimus kellicotti
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Adult Parasite:
The adult worms measure 8 to 16 mm long.
Adult fluke
Cross section of a pair of adult flukes
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Hosts:
- Mink, muskrat, dogs, cat, raccoons, fox and other carnivores
(definitive).
- Snails [Melania, Ampullaria, and other genera] (first
intermediate).
- Fresh-water crabs and crayfish (second intermediate).
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Life Cycle:
The egg matures (2 to 3 weeks) and hatches in water. The
miracidium finds and penetrates a snail. Sporocysts, and then redia develop
in the snail. Cercariae develop in the redia, and when mature emerge from
the snail. The cercariae swim around until they find a crustacean which
they penetrate and encyst in the heart, liver, or muscles as metacercaria.
When the definitive host eats the crayfish the metacercaria excyst in the
host's small intestine. The young fluke penetrates the gut wall and wanders
in the peritoneal cavity for 1 to 14 days before penetrating the diaphragm
and then the lungs. The adult flukes are normally found in pairs within
cysts in the lung. The cyst has an opening to a bronchiole. Eggs are laid
in the cyst and pass out to the bronchiole. They are passed up with the
lung mucus and are swallowed. The eggs then pass out with the feces. The
prepatent period is about 3 to 36 days.
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Site in host where adult parasite
is found:
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Diagnostic Stage:
Common Diagnostic Test
Clinical Signs:
- Intermittent cough, lethargy, chronic bronchiolitis,
chronic eosinophilic granulomatous pneumonia.
Treatment:
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