C4 - Diphyllobothriasis Flashcards
parasitic infection caused by cestodes of the genus Diphyllobothrium, also known as “broadtapeworms” or “fishtapeworms”.
diphyllobothriasis
- It is a large tapeworm, often consisting of 3000 to 4000 segments or proglottids measuring from 3 to 12 m, that inhabits the ileum and jejunum
- Largets human tapeworm.
Diphyllobothrium latum
where does the Diphyllobothrium latum inhabit
- ileum
- jejunum
hosts of D. latum
- definitive = humans & fish-eating carnivores
- first inter. = large no. of copepods species (crustaceans)
- sec. inter. = freshwater fish
life cycle of D. latum
- unembryonated eggs passed in feces
- eggs embryonate in water
- coracidia hatch from eggs and ingested by crustaceans
- procercoid larvae develop in body of crustaceans
- crustacean ingested byy fish, procercoid larva develops into plerocercoid larva
- predator fish eats small fish, plerocercoid invades tissue
- definitive host ingest plerocercoid in fish
- become adult in small intestine
mode of transmission of D. latum
eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish containing plerocercoid larvae
pathogenesis of D. latum
- megaloblastic anemia
- local inflammation in the intestine
symptoms of Diphyllobothriasis
- diarrhea
- constipation
- headache
- weight loss
- fatigue
- anemia
- abdominal pain
- passage of proglottids
diagnosis for Diphyllobothriasis
- microscopic stool exam for ova and proglottids
- CBC
- vitamin B12 level
geographical distribution of Diphyllobothrium
traditionally found in
- japan
- northern europe
- africa
- north america
- south america
who is at risk of diphyllobothriasis
people who eat raw fish
treatment for diphyllobothriasis
- praziquantel
- niclosamide
- vitamin b12 injection or supplements
- 5-10 mg/kg orally in a single dose
- should be taken with liquids during a meal
praziquantel
- Adults: 2 g orally once
- Children: 50 mg/kg (max.2 g) orally once
- must be chewed thoroughly or crushed and swallowed with a small amount of water
niclosamide
dose for praziquantel
5-10 mg/kg
dose for niclosamide
- adults: 2g orally once
- children: 50 mg/kg (max 2g) orally once
preventions for diphyllobothriasis
- do not eat raw or undercooked fish
- adequate cooking or freezing of freshwater fish
- proper use of latrine
- proper disposal of sewage
