Detection of Schistosoma mansoni in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a useful tool in the diagnosis of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic pulmonary infections. There have been rare reports of parasitic infestations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. This is the first case report on detecting a Schistosoma ova in BAL fluid.


METHODS
A 40-year-old, Egyptian male presented with a fever and productive cough. He had a right pleural effusion and segmental collapse of the right lower lobe. BAL fluid showed several ova of Schistosoma mansoni and established the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Abdominal ultrasound revealed mild hepatic cirrhosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Schistosomiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary problems in patients with disseminated disease in endemic areas.
Abdulla
M A
MA
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
Hombal
S M
SM
al-Juwaiser
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000469:parasitology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed