An unusual case of parasitism by Lagochilascaris minor infection is reported in a 38-year-old woman from Paraupebas, Pará, Brazil. The article summarizes the main characteristics of the disease and its etiological agent, including prevalence, life cycle, clinical course and treatment.
Key words:
lagochilascariasis; helminthiasis; parasites; pathology
A) cervical lymph node containing cylindrical worms measuring on average 1.5 cm in length each; B) detail of the lymph node containing the worms.
A) adult worm inside the lymph node (HE, 40×); B) detail of adult worm inside the lymph node, showing the lateral alae (arrow) (HE, 100×); C) note a detail of the Lagochilascaris eggs with "soda cap" appearance (HE, 400×); D) adult worms in the tonsil (HE, 40×).
HE: hematoxylin and eosin.
(A) the infected definitive host (feline) releases worm's eggs (B) which contaminate the soil (C). The intermediate host (D) feeds on contaminated plants and becomes infected. The human enters as an accidental host by ingesting bush meat contaminated with the embryonated eggs of the parasite (E). The passage of the worm through the digestive tract (F) leads to its evolution, followed by a possible pulmonary cycle (G), in which Lagochilascaris ascends through the respiratory tract, migrating toward neighboring regions (H), such as lymph nodes (I) and the central nervous system (J).
HE: hematoxylin and eosin.
A) the A. lumbricoides egg membrane is regular; B) the L. minor egg membrane is dentate, with "soda cap" appearance.
A) adult worm inside the lymph node (HE, 40×); B) detail of adult worm inside the lymph node, showing the lateral alae (arrow) (HE, 100×); C) note a detail of the Lagochilascaris eggs with "soda cap" appearance (HE, 400×); D) adult worms in the tonsil (HE, 40×).
HE: hematoxylin and eosin.
(A) the infected definitive host (feline) releases worm's eggs (B) which contaminate the soil (C). The intermediate host (D) feeds on contaminated plants and becomes infected. The human enters as an accidental host by ingesting bush meat contaminated with the embryonated eggs of the parasite (E). The passage of the worm through the digestive tract (F) leads to its evolution, followed by a possible pulmonary cycle (G), in which Lagochilascaris ascends through the respiratory tract, migrating toward neighboring regions (H), such as lymph nodes (I) and the central nervous system (J).
