Answer to Case 27
This was a case of paragonimiasis caused by Paragonimus westermani.  Diagnostic features observed were:

• The size of these eggs is within the range for P. westermani eggs.
• The presence of an operculum (blue arrows).
• A thickening of the abopercular end of the shell (green arrows).

The small, brown specks in the man's sputum were clusters of eggs.  The adult P. westermani lives in the lungs.  The eggs are often passed in the stool or coughed up and either spit out or swallowed.

A	B