Page 155 - Medical Parasitology_ A Textbook ( PDFDrive )

148 12 Trematodes: Flukes

Treatment
Drug of choice is praziquantel (75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses for 1 day).
Hexylresorcinol and tetrachlorethylene have also been found useful.

Prevention and Control
1. Treatment of infected cases
2. Wash water vegetations, preferably in hot water or cook well before
consumption
3. Prevent contamination of ponds and other water sources with pig or human
excreta
4. Control of snails

Heterophyes heterophyes

This is the smallest intestinal trematode of human. The infection is prevalent in the
Nile delta, Turkey and in the Far East. The adult worm lives in the small intestine
and has a lifespan of about 2 months. Its definitive hosts are humans, cats, dogs,
foxes and other fish eating mammals. Freshwater snail is its first intermediate host,
and freshwater fish is its second intermediate host. Humans acquire infection
through ingestion of infected freshwater fish. Praziquantel is the drug of choice.

Metagonimus yokogawai

It is found in the Far East, northern Siberia, Balkan states and Spain. Its definitive
hosts are humans, pigs, dogs, cats and pelicans. The first intermediate host is the
freshwater snail and second intermediate host is the freshwater fish. Humans acquire
infection through ingestion of infected freshwater fish. Praziquantel is the drug of
choice.

Lung Fluke

Paragonimus westermani

Common name Oriental lung fluke

Distribution
The parasite is endemic in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and Southeast Asian
countries.

Habitat
Adult worms live in the lungs, usually in pairs in cystic spaces that communicate
with bronchi.