Alveococcosis of the lungs in a young man: a clinical case

Abstract

Background. Alveolar echinococcosis (alveococcosis) is one of the most dangerous helminth infections. Alveococcosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the helminth Alveococcus multilocularis. The main hosts of alveococcus are carnivorous animals (foxes, arctic foxes, cats, dogs), intermediate hosts are rodents and humans as biological dead ends. The source of infection for humans is the main hosts, which excrete alveococcus eggs into the environment with their feces. Infection occurs when alveococcus eggs are ingested during hunting, skinning and cutting up carcasses of killed animals, or eating forest berries and fruits contaminated with alveococcus eggs. In Russia, the highest number of cases of alveococcosis has been recorded in the Altai Krai, the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Novosibirsk and Kemerovo regions, and Moscow. Urban and rural residents are equally susceptible to the disease. Alveococcosis is characterized by infiltrative growth of parasitic tissues with damage to various organs and metastasis. Due to its prolonged chronic and sometimes asymptomatic course, alveococcosis can lead to severe organ and systemic disorders, disability, and often death. It is important to diagnose alveococcosis at an early stage of the disease, which allows for timely treatment and improves the prognosis. The difficulty in diagnosing alveococcosis lies in its prolonged asymptomatic course and the presence of «masks» of other diseases. The method and effectiveness of alveococcosis treatment depend on many factors: the size of the tumor, the presence of metastases, and the condition of the affected organs and systems. If possible, total surgical removal of the alveolar cyst is performed. Given the possibility of metastasis to distant organs, chemotherapy for alveolar hydatid disease is not a radical but a desirable treatment method.

Results. A clinical case of alveococcosis in a young man is presented. The uniqueness of the case lies in the involvement of the lungs without primary liver involvement.