Giant intestinal leeches
| Giant intestinal leeches | ||||||||||||
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Giant intestinal gel egg ( Fasciolopsis buski ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Fasciolopsis buski | ||||||||||||
| ( Lankester , 1857) |
The giant intestinal leech ( Fasciolopsis buski ) belongs to the group of flukes .
Occurrence
Fasciolopsis buski can be found in the following countries: central and southern China , Taiwan , Vietnam , Thailand , India , Borneo and other countries in Southeast Asia . Millions of people are infected in these countries, especially in rural areas.
features
This giant intestinal cone can grow up to 80 mm. It is a dangerous parasite of animals and humans and is considered to be the causative agent of fasciolopsiasis . The pig is considered in some parts of the world as a natural reservoir for these parasites. Dogs and rabbits can also be infected by it.
Intermediate hosts
Lung snails , especially the species Segmentina nitidella , Segmentina hemisphaerula and Hippeutis taste as well as the genera Gyraulus , Lymnaea , Planorbis and Indoplanorbis, act as intermediate hosts for the giant intestinal leech . The genus Pila ( apple snails ) is also mentioned by a source.
Infection of humans
Humans ingest the intestinal leech orally mostly as metacercariae , which are found in stagnant waters on aquatic plants or marsh plants intended for human consumption . These include, in particular, the water nut , the water chestnut , and probably the lotus root , the water spinach and the Manchurian wild rice ( Zizania latifolia ), whose fungal stems are also eaten raw as vegetables (see Source 1).
diagnosis
The parasite can be detected by detecting the worm eggs in the stool.
Course of the disease / symptoms
After an incubation period of up to three months, fasciolopsiasis leads to abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea, allergic reactions and nausea. Occasionally, this condition also leads to death.
therapy
Treatment with praziquantel is possible.
prevention
- Heating aquatic plants before consumption
- Heating of drinking water from surface waters ( "Encysted cercariae exist not only on aquatic plants, but also on the surface of the water." )
- Control of human and animal wastewater
- Control of intermediate hosts ( snails )
See also
- Parasites of humans , aquatic plants , marsh plants
- Compare also: Greater liver fluke ( Fasciola hepatica )
Quotes
- "It has been estimated that there may be 10 million people in East Asia infected with this fluke, yet its radiological identification remains unreported."
- “Water bamboo is a very popular vegetable in China. The swollen stem is sliced and eaten raw or cooked. "
literature
- Studies on ecology of Fasciolopsis buski and control strategy of fasciolopsiasis . PMID 2805255
- Fasciolopsiasis: is it a controllable food-borne disease? PMID 11199855
- Fascioliasis and other plant-borne trematode zoonoses . PMID 16150452
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ quoted from: Studies on ecology of Fasciolopsis buski and control strategy of fasciolopsiasis
- ↑ tmcr.usuhs.mil ( Memento from September 27, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ hort.purdue.edu
