Abstract
Amphistomes are digenetic trematodes that infect a variety of hosts, including animals and humans. Amphistomiasis is the disease in humans and animals caused by members of Echinostomida as well as the family Paramphistomidae/Gastrodiscidae. Gastrodiscoides hominis and Watsonius watsoni cause infection in humans. Adult flukes are believed to be harmless, as they do not cause serious health problems in the infected animals. Immature flukes are responsible for the active disease. Amphistomiasis in animals is characterised by profuse diarrhoea, which usually develops 2–4 weeks after initial infection. Diarrhoea and inflammation of the intestines are the frequent manifestations in humans, which may even be fatal. Diagnosis of the condition in infected animals is based on clinical features and also post-mortem findings. In the developing countries, diagnosis of the condition in infected humans and prognosis is often complicated by multiple infections of Fasciola hepatica, schistosomes and other trematodes. Resorantel, oxyclozanide, clorsulon, ivermectin, niclosamide bithional and levamisole have been evaluated for treatment of amphistomiasis with promising results.
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Further Readings
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Case Study
Case Study
A farmer from rural Assam, India, comes to the OPD with history of pain in abdomen, uneasiness and passage of some blood tinged in his stool off and on. He gives a history of keeping livestock like cattle and sheep besides cultivating crops. Stool examination results were negative for any ova or cysts and bacterial cultures were negative. Colonoscopy picture reveals black tadpole-like worm attached to the intestinal walls. On further enquiry, he gave history that some of his cattle were suffering from loose motion, bloating, restlessness and anorexia too.
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What is the most probable diagnosis?
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Which parasitic infections should be ruled out first?
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What are the various species which can cause zoonotic infections in human?
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Give two preventive measures for this parasitic infection.
Research Questions
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Are there more species of amphistomes which can infect humans?
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Though they are parasites of animals, can humans be directly infected?
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Have the species of amphistomes got outbreak potential in humans?
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Why it is important to study parasite proteomics and its modulation?
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Rajkumari, N. (2022). Amphistomiasis. In: Parija, S.C., Chaudhury, A. (eds) Textbook of Parasitic Zoonoses. Microbial Zoonoses. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7204-0_27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7204-0_27
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