Diphyllobothrium latum Flashcards
Diphyllobothrium latum is a zoonitic cestode (T/F)
TRUE
What are the definitive hosts for Diphyllobothrium latum?
- Humans
- Fish-eating mammals (dogs, cats, bears)
What are the intermediate hosts for Diphyllobothrium latum?
- Crustacean
- Freshwater fish
What is the geographical distribution of Diphyllobothrium latum?
-Scandinavia
-Russia
- North America
(freshwater)
What does Diphyllobothrium latum use to attach to small intestines
- 2 longitudinal grooves (bothria) which attach to small intestines
How is Diphyllobothrium latum transmitted?
Humans eat undercooked freshwater fish.
Describe the life cycle of Diphyllobothrium latum.
- Host excretes eggs in feces into freshwater then eaten by copepod which is eaten by fish.
- Fertile eggs are only produced by human hosts
What do you get get when you ingest Diphyllobothrium latum eggs?
Sparganosis
What is sparganosis? (caused by ingestion of Diphyllobothrium latum eggs)
-Inflammatory response, eye and CNS lesions.
Diphyllobothrium latum is the only cestode in which the adult tapeworm causes disease
Diphyllobothrium latum is the only cestode in which the adult tapeworm causes disease
What are the clinical symptoms caused by Diphyllobothrium latum?
- Usually apathogenic
- May cause MACROCYTIC (PERNICIOUS) ANEMIA… due to tapeworms uptake of Vit. B12 from intestine.
How would one directly diagnose Diphyllobothrium latum?
Detection of characteristic eggs in the feces
What is the treatment for Diphyllobothrium latum.
-Niclosamide
or
-Praziquantel
(effective against adult tapeworm)
How does one prevent Diphyllobothrium latum infection?
- Cook fish properly
- Proper disposal of human feces
