Jumat, 08 Februari 2008

Diphyllobothrium latum (fish or broad tapeworm)

Epidemiology
Fish tapeworm infection is distributed worldwide, in the subarctic and temperate regions; it is associated with eating of raw or improperly cooked fresh water fish.
Morphology
This is the longest tapeworm found in man, ranging from 3-10 meters with more than 3000 proglottids. The scolex resembles two almond-shaped leaves and the proglottids are broader than they are long, a morphology reflected in the organism's name. Eggs are 30 x 50 micrometers in size and contain an embryo with 3 pairs of hooklets.
Life cycle
Man and other animals are infected by eating uncooked fish that contains plerocercoid larvae (15 x 2 mm) which attach to the small intestinal wall and mature into adult worms in 3 to 5 weeks. Eggs discharged from gravid proglottids in the small intestine are passed in the feces. The egg hatches in fresh water to produce a ciliated coracidium which needs to be ingested by a water flea (Cyclops) where it develops into a procercoid larva. When infected Cyclops are ingested by the freshwater fish, the procercoid larva penetrates the intestinal wall and develops into a plerocercoid larva, infectious to man (figure 3).
Symptoms
Clinical symptoms may be mild, depending on the number of worms. They include abdominal discomfort, loss of weight, loss of appetite and some malnutrition. Anemia and neurological problems associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are seen in heavily infected individuals.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on finding many typical eggs and empty proglottids in feces (Figure 3). A history of raw fish consumption and residence in an endemic locality is helpful.
Treatment and control
Praziquantel is the drug of choice. Freezing for 24 hours, thorough cooking or pickling of fish kills the larvae. Fish reservoirs should

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