Fasciolopsiasis (Fasciolopsis Infection)

Causal Agent:

The trematode Fasciolopsis buski, the largest intestinal fluke of humans.

Life Cycle:

Immature eggs are discharged into the intestine and stool.  Eggs become embryonated in water, eggs release miracidia, which invade a suitable snail intermediate host.  In the snail the parasites undergo several developmental stages (sporocysts, rediae, and cercariae).  The cercariae are released from the snail and encyst as metacercariae on aquatic plants.  The mammalian hosts become infected by ingesting metacercariae on the aquatic plants.  After ingestion, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum and attach to the intestinal wall.  There they develop into adult flukes (20 to 75 mm by 8 to 20 mm) in approximately 3 months, attached to the intestinal wall of the mammalian hosts (humans and pigs).  The  adults have a life span of about one year.

Geographic Distribution:

Asia and the Indian subcontinent, especially in areas where humans raise pigs and consume freshwater plants.

Clinical Features:

Most infections are light and asymptomatic.  In heavier infections, symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, ascites, anasarca and intestinal obstruction.

Laboratory Diagnosis:

Microscopic identification of eggs, or more rarely of the adult flukes, in the stool or vomitus is the basis of specific diagnosis.  The eggs are indistinguishable from those of Fasciola hepatica.

Diagnostic findings

  • Microscopy
  • Morphologic comparison with other intestinal parasites

Treatment:

Praziquantel

  • is the drug of choice. 

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