First case of Paragonimus westermani infection in a female patient in India

Abstract

Paragonimiasis is a foodborne parasitic zoonosis caused by lung fluke species of the genus Paragonimus. The Paragonimus westermani is the most common human pathogen in Asian countries. In northeast India, Paragonimus heterotremus has been documented as the only human pathogen in the earlier literature. In India, P. westermani infection in humans remained undetermined. Herein, we report a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis due to P. westermani in an adult female in Manipur. The diagnosis was made by morphological and molecular characterisation of the eggs in the sputum. This is the first confirmed case of paragonimiasis due to P. westermani in India.