Fasciolopsis

buski
 OVERVIEW
• Fasciolopsis buski is commonly called
the giant intestinal fluke, because it is an
exceptionally large parasitic fluke, and
the largest known to parasite humans.
• Fasciolopsis buski lives in the small
intestine of humans and pigs.
• Fasciolopsis buski generally occupies the
upper region of the small intestine, but in
heavy infestations can also be found in
the stomach and lower regions of the
intestine
• The prevalence of fasciolopsis is related
to growing water plants and feeding pigs
on water plants
MORPHOLOGY

 Fasciolopsis buski is a large, leaf-shaped,

 dorsoventrally flattened fluke characterized by a
blunt anterior end,
 undulating, unbranched ceca (sac-like cavities
with single openings),
 tandem dendritic testes,
 branched ovaries, and ventral suckers to attach
itself to the host.
 MORPHOLOGY OF ADULT
 The adult flukes range in size: 20 to 75 mm
by 8 to 20 mm and approximate the length
of 50 mm
 Long elliptic, flesh-colored, looks like a
slice of raw meat
 Dead worm looks like a slice of ginger
 The funnel-like ventral sucker is near the
oral sucker
 Two coral-like testes are located in the
posterior half of the body
 MORPHOLOGY OF EGG

Oval in shape

Slightly yellow in color

130-140×80-85µm, the
largest helminth egg

 The thinner shell with an

operculum encloses an
ovum and 20-40 yolk
cells.
LIFE CYCLE
Site of inhabitation: small intestine
Infectivestage: metacercaria
Infective mode: eating raw water plants with
metacercariae
Intermediate hosts: Planorbis snail
Medium of water plants: water bamboo, water
caltrop and water chestnut, etc.
Reservoir host: pig
Life span: 1-4 years
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

Stool examination:
1. Direct fecal smear
2. Water sedimentation method
EPIDEMIOLOGY
 The disease is prevalent in Southeast Asia. In
China it is found in 18 provinces, city and
autonomic region except north and west regions

 The prevalence of fasciolopiasis is related to

growing water plants and feeding pigs on water
plants
PREVENTION
 In endemic areas, freshwater plants should be cooked before being
eaten.
 Better control of the infection can be achieved by prohibition of
night soil use as fertilizer and proper disposal of human and pigs.
 Health education
 Management of human feces
 Avoid feeding pigs on raw water plants

TREATMENT
 Praziquantel
Pathology and Clinical manifestation

 Enteritis due to the attachment of the adults,

manifests abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea
 Malnutrition results from the worms sharing food
with the host and diarrhea
 Manifests anemia, edema of leg and face even ascites
 Maximum worm burden report >3,700 worms