Alaria spp. (2) Flashcards
What is the common name?
Intestinal fluke
What are the final hosts?
Dogs
Cats
Fox
Minks
What are the intermediate hosts?
1st intermediate host: Snail
2nd intermediate host: Tadpoles
What are the Paratenic hosts?
Frogs
Snakes
Mice
Other small rodents
Rats
Birds
Reptiles
Wild Boars
Humans
Describe adults
Pink or brown
10 mm
In small intestine
Flattened forebody
- Ventral groove - Wrap around mucosa of intestinal tract
Hindpart cylindrical
Describe eggs
Up to 130 micro m long
Oval
Honey color
Distinct operculum
Larger than other helminths
Explain the life cycle
Eggs excreted in feces
Develop into miracidia
Infect snail
Cercariae emerge from snail to penetrate tadpole (IH)
Transform into mesocercariae
Infected tissue ingested
Larvae develop to adults in lungs and move to small intestine
PPP: 5 weeks
What is the site of infection for adults?
Small intestine
What is the site of infection of immature stages?
Lungs
Describe the Pathogenesis
No evident clinical signs
May infect people
Heavy infection causes severe duodenitis
Lung migration cause clinical illness
How do you diagnose?
Fecal sedimentation for detection of eggs from final host
How do you treat?
Though a trematode, cestocides work
What is important about Alaria spp.?
It is ZOONOTIC
