Parasitic Infections

Pulmonary Embolic Disorders

“…The male contains an intestinal tube and a single reproductive tube. Other worms commonly found in the lung are usually small larvae lacking reproductive structures (87).…”

“…Microfilaria of these species may also circulate through the lung and result in tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, a form of Loeffler's syndrome, typified by peripheral blood eosinophilia and pulmonary symptoms with radiologic infiltrates. Interestingly, microfilaria are not seen in the blood, leading to the conclusion that the immune response to products of their degeneration is responsible for the syndrome, which may be persistent and recurrent (87).…”

“…These larvae then migrate into blood vessels and through organs, passing through the lungs via microembolism and direct penetration in great numbers, often carrying bacteria with them. This may result in acute pneumonia and abscess formation in the brain and other organs as well as diarrhea and peritonitis, creating an oft fatal illness (87). While doing an autopsy in Cairo in 1852, Theodor Bilharz found an unusual worm in the mesenteric veins leading to the recognition of bilharziasis which later became known as schistosomiasis (88).…”