Lung Flukes Like other Flukes, lung flukes live out the first part of their lives inside the body of a snail that is in water. After a series of divisions and growth, the lung fluke leaves the snail and moves to fresh water crustaceans, normally crabs. Infection in humans then takes place after eating raw or uncooked fresh water crustaceans. After being ingested, the parasites migrate through the body to the lungs. After maturing eggs are laid in the mucous, and they can contaminate water through the mucous or through feces. Symptoms of infection include pleurisy, pneumothorax, cough, mild anemia and other symptoms that may be confused with tuberculosis.