Page 120 - Medical Parasitology_ A Textbook ( PDFDrive )

Other Types of Nematodes Infecting Humans 113

Fig. 10.21 Capillaria
philippinensis egg

Treatment
Mebendazole (200 mg twice/day for 20 days) and albendazole (400 mg/day for 10
days). In acute illness, fluid and electrolyte replacement and a high protein diet are
recommended.

Prevention and Control
1. Avoid eating small, whole, uncooked fish
2. Proper sanitation

Gnathostoma spinigerum

Distribution
Gnathostoma spinigerum, originally described from gastric tumours of a tiger, para-
sitizes dogs, cats and other vertebrates. Gnathostomiasis is a zoonotic infection of
human. Human infections have been reported from Thailand and other countries in
the Far East.

Habitat
In human, the larva stage migrates throughout the body.

Morphology
It is a small nematode. The female (25–55 mm) is longer than the male (10–25 mm).
The eggs are oval, brown, unsegmented with a knob at one end. The larva is about
4 mm long with numerous spines on the head and body.

Life Cycle
The definitive hosts are dog, cat and other carnivorous animals. Cyclop is the first
intermediate host. Second intermediate host are freshwater fish and frog. Birds and
humans are paratenic hosts.