The nematode (roundworm) Capillaria philippinensis causes human intestinal capillariasis.  Two other Capillaria species parasitize animals, with rare reported instances of human infections.  They are C. hepatica, which causes in humans hepatic capillariasis, and C. aerophila, which causes in humans pulmonary capillariasis.

Causes

Capillaria hepatica adult worms reside in the liver of various animals, especially rats.  The females produce eggs that are retained in the liver parenchyma.  When the infected animal is eaten by another animal, the eggs are released by digestion, excreted in the feces of the second animal, and become embryonated in the soil.  Alternately, the eggs can be released following the death and decomposition of the first animal, and mature in the soil.  Following ingestion by a subsequent host, these infective eggs release larvae in the intestine that migrate through the portal circulation to the liver, where they develop into adults.

Capillaria aerophila adult worms reside in the epithelium of the tracheo-bronchial tract of various animals.  Eggs are produced, coughed up, swallowed by the animal, and excreted in its feces.  The eggs become embryonated in the soil.  Ingestion of infective eggs completes the cycle.  Transport or paratenic hosts may also intervene in the cycle.

Symptoms

Intestinal capillariasis (caused by C. philippinensis) manifests as abdominal pain and diarrhea, which, if untreated, may become severe because of autoinfection.  A protein-losing enteropathy can develop which may result in cachexia and death.  Hepatic capillariasis (C. hepatica) manifests as an acute or subacute hepatitis with eosinophilia, with possible dissemination to other organs.  It may be fatal.  Pulmonary capillariasis (C. aerophila) may present with fever, cough, asthma, and pneumonia, and also may be fatal.

Diagnosis

The specific diagnosis of C. philippinensis is established by finding eggs, larvae and/or adult worms in the stool, or in intestinal biopsies.  Unembryonated eggs are the typical stage found in the feces.  In severe infections, embryonated eggs, larvae, and even adult worms can be found in the feces.

The specific diagnosis of C. hepatica infection is based on demonstrating the adult worms and/or eggs in liver tissue at biopsy or necropsy.  (Note: identification of C. hepatica eggs in the stool is a spurious finding, which does not result from infection of the human host, but from ingestion by that host of livers from infected animals.)

The specific diagnosis of C. aerophila is based on demonstrating eggs in stool or in lung biopsy.

Treatment

The drug of choice is mebendazole, and albendazole is an alternative.

References

CDC