A rare association of brucellosis and pulmonary hydatid cyst in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Background: Hydatid disease, or cystic echinococcosis, is a parasitic infection caused by a tapeworm. Pulmonary hydatid infection is the second common manifestation of hydatid disease. We present a patient who was diagnosed with recurrent hydatid cyst in lung and later diagnosed with brucellosis, which is a highly contagious zoonotic disease. Case presentation: A 47-years-old male was diagnosed with pulmonary hydatid disease after a computed tomography (CT) chest-plain was done. As the patient had high intermittent fever for 4 months which could not be explained by an intact cyst in the followup, the patient was diagnosed with brucellosis with both IgG and IgM antibodies positive. Conclusions: Hydatid cyst present with varied symptomatology. A high degree of clinical suspicion combined with meticulous history and clinical examination supported by laboratory investigations are required for its diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of considering brucella as a differential diagnosis. Keywords: hydatid cyst; brucellosis; co-infection; HIV; echinococcus