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Fasciolopsis buski
The largest trematode to infect humans.
Size: 2-7.5 cm in length, 0.8-2 cm in width
Epidemiology:
- acquired by ingestion of infectious metacercariae on aquatic food plants
- distribution: China, Southeast Asia, India
- animal hosts: frequently found in pigs
* image of life cycle of Fasciolopsis buski [3]
Pathology:
- worms attach to wall of duodenum & jejunum where they ature into egg-laying adults in 3 months
Clinical manifestations:
1) diarrhea
2) epigastric pain
3) nausea
Laboratory:
1) eosinophilia
2) stool examination:
a) 130-140 x 80-85 um brown, oval, thin-shelled eggs
b) operculum of egg may be inconspicuous
c) differentiation from eggs of Fasciola generally not feasible
* images [3]
Management:
- praziquantel 25 mg/kg TID for 1 day
Related
praziquantel (Biltricide)
General
Fasciolopsis
Properties
KINGDOM: animal
PHYLUM: helminth
References
- Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods,
19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co.,
Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 1290
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed.
Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 930
- Grimm L
What's Eating You: 12 Common Intestinal Parasites.
Medscape. November 25, 2019
https://reference.medscape.com/slideshow/intestinal-parasites-6010996
- Grim L
You've Got Worms! Common Intestinal Parasites
Medscape. Jan 23, 2023
https://reference.medscape.com/slideshow/intestinal-parasites-6014593