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Platyhelminths Trematoda (Flatworms) Flukes

Platyhelminths Trematoda (Flatworms) Flukes. Facts about Flukes. Flatworm unsegmented body No body cavity; nutrients diffuse across body surface =acoelomate >11,000 species Affect >300 million people each year (mostly in Africa and Asia) Most are obligate parasites

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Platyhelminths Trematoda (Flatworms) Flukes

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  1. PlatyhelminthsTrematoda (Flatworms)Flukes

  2. Facts about Flukes • Flatworm • unsegmented body • No body cavity; nutrients diffuse across body surface =acoelomate • >11,000 species • Affect >300 million people each year (mostly in Africa and Asia) • Most are obligate parasites • Live in intestines, tissue, or blood • Distinctive mouth part (sucker) • Intermediate stages are asexual whereas adults are either male or female • Complex life cycle

  3. Different kinds of flukes • Intestinal Fluke • Liver Fluke- this species actually eats your liver and blood causing problems with fat metabolism and systemic inflammation. • Blood Fluke- causes infection in the blood that can cause fever and also can spread throughout the bloodstream to affect other organs and glands of the body. • Lung Fluke

  4. Shistosoma: Blood Flukes • Responsible for Schistosomiasis considered by WHO as the 2nd most socioeconomically devastating parasitic disease (after malaria) • the worms are not found in US • >200 million people are infected worldwide. • one of the NTD • Parasitic larvae live in certain types of freshwater snails.

  5. Life Cycle • Male and female adult worms • Eggs released in bladder or intestines •  excreted w/ urine or feces to fresh water • Larvae pass through intermediate host = snail • Larvae can survive outside snail for ~48 hrs •  2nd larval stage completed and parasite can directly penetrate skin of human host • Parasite mates in host • Eggs are passed out through urine or fecal matter

  6. Where is it found?

  7. Symptoms Common Symptoms • Symptoms are caused by the body’s reaction to the eggs. • Can cause inflammation and scarring of bladder or intestines • Within days of infection host may develop a rash or itchy skin. • Within 1-2 months of infection, symptoms may develop including fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches.

  8. Symptoms • Chronic schistosomiasis • Without treatment, schistosomiasis can persist for years. Signs and symptoms of chronic schistosomiasis include: abdominal pain enlarged liver blood in the stool or blood in the urine problems passing urine. • Chronic infection can also lead to increased risk of bladder cancer. • Rarely, eggs are found in the brain or spinal cord and can cause seizures, paralysis, or spinal cord inflammation.

  9. Prevention • No vaccine available • Drink and bathe in fresh water that is not contaminated • Minimize intermediate host population • Difficult b/c harmful to other fresh water organisms • Certain species of blood flukes can also infect cattle  Runoff into freshwater source can lead to further contamination

  10. Treatment • Anti-parasitic medication • Anti-inflammatory medication • Eradication efforts

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