Epidemiological observations on the first case of human paragonimosis and potential intermediate hosts of Paragonimus sp in Benin.

Parasitological investigations were carried out for four months in 1998 in two Beninese centres of pneumo-phtisiology (Akpakpa, at Cotonou, and Akron, at Porto-Novo) to detect the patients harbouring eggs of Paragonimus sp. a mongst the persons consulting for tuberculosis and showing a broncho-pneumo pathy without mycobacteria. Eggs of Paragonimus sp. were detected in the sp utum of a single patient out of 369 persons examined (prevalence, 0.2%). Th is patient had eaten crabs in the months preceding the date of diagnosis. A treatment using praziquantel has improved clinical symptomatology and biol ogical signs found in this patient These studies have been completed by vis iting markets located in the coastal plain of Benin to identify the crabs t hat were sold and to find metacercariae of Paragonimus sp. Negative results were obtained when 126 Cardisoma armatum ("hole crab") were dissected. In contrast, the dissection of 176 Callinectes marginatus ("swimming crab") wa s successful, with 5% of crabs harbouring metacercariae of probably Paragon imus sp. Further studies are necessary to confirm these first results and t o determine the global prevalence of Paragonimus infection in these definit ive and intermediary hosts.