Liver Flukes (Fasciola hepatica)

• common parasite of @@herbivorous animals@@ worldwide
• human infection reported from cattle-raising countries
• leaf-like worm
• Body: anterior conical part, shoulders converging lateral borders

\ Parasite: Fasciola hepatica

Disease: Fascioliasis

Habitat: @@bile ducts@@ of herbivorous animals and occasionally human

Definitive host: Human

Intermediate host: snail

Reservoir hosts: herbivorous animals such as cattle

Infective stage: encysted metacercariae

Mode of infection: ingestion of encysted metacercariae; either eaten on raw or undercooked vegetables or drunk with water.

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Clinical Picture

• irregular fever
• indigestion
• vomiting
• biliary colic
• jaundice (due to the inflammation of bile duct and gallbladder)
• pain in the upper right hypochondrium with enlarged tender liver
• anemia
• high eosinophilia (up to 60% - 80%)

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Ectopic Fascioliasis

Adult fasciola in abnormal sites when metacercariae enter the circulation and are distributed all over the body.

Halzoun (parasitic pharyngitis)

A clinical condition which occurs when eating infected raw liver of sheep.

• living fasciola worms attach to the pharyngeal mucosa by its suckers
• inflammation and edema occur   * dyspnea or suffocation can also occur

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Diagnosis

• diagnostic stage: egg

Laboratory

• detection of fasciola eggs in stool
• serological tests to detect specific antibodies   * where no eggs pass in stool   * particularly important:     * during the early migratory stage of the disease     * in ectopic infection
• Eosinophilia

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Treatment

1. ==Triclabendazole==    * drug of choice    * acts on immature and adult worms
2. Bithionol

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Prevention and Control

1. Mass treatment of infected animal resevoirs
2. Snail eradication    * most frequently used approach
3. Proper washing or cooking of aquatic vegetation
4. Pure filtered water supply

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