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Review
. 2014 Oct;52(5):521-5.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2014.52.5.521. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Bronchopulmonary infection of Lophomonas blattarum: a case and literature review

Jian Xue  1 , Ying-Li Li  1 , Xue-Mei Yu  2 , Dai-Kun Li  2 , Ming-Fang Liu  2 , Jing-Fu Qiu  1 , Jian-Jiang Xue  2
Affiliations
Review

Bronchopulmonary infection of Lophomonas blattarum: a case and literature review

Jian Xue et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Human infections with Lophomonas blattarum are rare. However, the majority of the infections occurred in China, 94.4% (136 cases) of all cases in the world. This infection is difficult to differentiate from other pulmonary infections with similar symptoms. Here we reported a case of L. blattarum infection confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid smear on the microscopic observations. The patient was a 21-year-old female college student. The previous case which occurred in Chongqing was 20 years ago. We briefly reviewed on this infection reported in the world during the recent 20 years. The epidemiological characteristics, possible diagnostic basis, and treatment of this disease is discussed in order to provide a better understanding of recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of L. blattarum infection.

Keywords: Lophomonas blattarum; bronchopulmonary; case report; literature review.

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Conflict of interest statement

We have no conflict of interest related to this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Lophomonas blattarum detected from BAL fluid of the patients by microscopic observations: Direct smear (A, B, ×400) and Wright-Giemsa stain (C, D, ×1,000).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • On cilia, flagella, and pulmonary pseudoprotozoa.
    Martínez-Girón R, van Woerden HC. Martínez-Girón R, et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2015 Apr;53(2):247. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.2.247. Epub 2015 Apr 22. Korean J Parasitol. 2015. PMID: 25925188 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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