GI Cestodes and Trematodes Flashcards
Cestodes
***Tapeworms*** Segmented bodies Hermaphroditic Absorb nutrients Segments house mature eggs as they advance toward end of worm Can be 20 to 40 feet long
Three Basic Structures of Adult Cestodes (Tapeworms)
1) Scolex: rounded head of the worm, usually armed with HOOKS and/or SUCKERS
2) Neck: the area from which new body segments are generated
3) Body (Strobila): a long segmented structure
What are individual segments of the Strobilia (i.e. Body) called?
Proglottids
Cestodes (Humans as Definitive vs. Intermediate Host)
1) Definitive Host: Adult tapeworms residing in the GI tract (Small intestine)
- Taenia saginata (Beef tapeworm)
- Taenia solium (Pig tapeworm)
- Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish tapeworm)
2) Intermediate Host: Larval stages present in various tissues (e.g. liver, brain, eye, etc.)
- Echinococcus granulosus (Dog tapeworm)
- Taenia solium (Pig tapeworm)
Beef Tapeworm - Taenia saginata (Life Cycle)
Infected human passes eggs/proglottids in their feces, cattle graze on the area that is contaminated with human waste
We eat meat medium rare and get this
Beef Tapeworm - Taenia saginata (Transmission)
Ingestion of undercooked beef containing encysted larvae (Cysticerci)
-Humans are generally infected with a single adult worm (Can reach 10-30 ft in length and live up to 25 years)
Beef Tapeworm - Taenia saginata (Symptomatology)
Generally Asymptomatic
-Mild abdominal pain/feeling of fullness
Beef Tapeworm - Taenia saginata (Diagnosis, Control/Prevention)
Diagnosis:
-Identification of proglottids or eggs passed by infected material
Control/Prevention:
- Prevent cattle from becoming infected (eliminated their contact with human feces)
- Prevent human infection by cooking meat thoroughly
Pork Tapeworm - Taenia solium (Transmission)
Ingestion of UNDERCOOKED PORK containing CYSTS results in intestinal disease
-Ingestion of embryonated eggs results in extra-intestinal disease (Cysticercosis)
Pork Tapeworm - Taenia solium (Intestinal Disease)
Similar to Beef Tapeworm
Generally Asymptomatic
-Mild abdominal pain/feeling of fullness
Pork Tapeworm - Taenia solium (Extra-Intestinal Disease)
- Ingested eggs hatch in intestine and release infectious larvae, which enter the circulation and travel to various body sites where they encyst (ONCHOSPHERE form penetrates intestine)
- Cysticercus creates a space-filling lesion and induces localized inflammation
- Location and size determines pathology (striated muscle, heart, brain, eyes)
- NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS = Severe complication. Seizure and neurological defects. (Approximately 2000 cases of neurocysticercosis in the U.S. annually)
Pork Tapeworm - Taenia solium (Diagnosis and Prevention/Control)
Diagnosis:
- Intestinal infection (PROGLOTTIDS or eggs in stool via O and P test)
- Extra-intestinal: CT scan, MRI, serology
Prevention/Control:
- Keep pigs away from human feces
- Cook pork thoroughly
Fish Tapeworm - Diphyllobothrium latum (Characteristics)
- LARGEST TAPEWORM infectin man (30 to 40 ft)*
- Infected fish can be found in freshwater lakes in Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, and California
Fish Tapeworm - Diphyllobothrium latum (Transmission)
Ingestion of raw or undercooked fish containing infectious larvae
Fish Tapeworm - Diphyllobothrium latum (Symptomatology)
Asymptomatic or mild
- Transient nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.
- Infection with multiple worms can lead to intestinal obstruction
- 2% of patients develop MACROCYTIC ANEMIA (VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY)