Pulmonary angiostrongyliasis: Two cases of atypical manifestations of Angiostrongylus costaricensis in Guatemala

Abstract

Angiostrongyliasis, an infection caused by nematodes of the genus Angiostrongylus spp., includes nine species in the Americas. Angiostrongylus costaricensis induces eosinophilic enteritis in humans and has been documented in Guatemala. Humans are considered accidental or final hosts of A. costaricensis, as they do not release eggs or larvae in their faeces. Most reported cases present with abdominal angiostrongyliasis (AA). Parasitic structures are difficult to identify in inflammatory lesions and larvae can occasionally migrate to extraintestinal organs. The gold standard for diagnosing A. costaricensis is histopathological analysis, confirmed by the identification of eggs, larvae in tissues, and/or adult worms in the vascular lumen. In our department, two cases of A. costaricensis affecting pulmonary vessels were diagnosed histopathologically. Given the rarity of pulmonary involvement, the cases were consulted with Dr. Carlos Graeff-Teixeira.

Keywords: Angiostrongiliasis extraintestinal; Angiostrongiliasis pulmonar; Angiostrongylus costaricensis; Extraintestinal angiostrongyliasis; Guatemala; Pulmonary angiostrongyliasis.