DIPHYLLOBOTHRIUM LATUM.pptx. .

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1. DIPHYLLOBOTHRIUM LATUM

2. INTRODUCTION Scientific name: D iphyllobothrium latum , Phylum: Platyhelminthes, Class: Cestoda, Order: Diphyllobothriidea, Family: Diphyllobothriidae, Genus: Diphyllobothrium, Specie: diphyllobothrium latum Diphyllobothrium latum “the broad fish tapeworm”, is the largest and longest tapeworm that infect humans (20-30 feet long). It causes a disease called diphyllobothriasis. It is acquired through ingestion of larvae in raw or undercooked fish. It takes about 3 to 6 weeks after exposure for the tapeworm to mature, and can live for more than 10 years.

3. MORPHOLOGY It has three different forms; egg, larvae and adult worm. The larvae is the infective form of the parasite. The adult worm is composed of three fairly distinct morphological segments; The scolex (head), the neck, and the lower body. The scolex is elongated and spoon shaped with two long sucking grooves and lacks hooks and Suckers. It’s about 10 meters long, with 3,000 Proglottids (segment-like divisions of the Tapeworm’ s body). They have no oral opening, thus feeding absorption. It is hermaphroditic, carrying both sex organs.

4. EPIDEMIOLOGY Diphyllobothrium latum occurs Worldwide, most prevalent where raw or pickled fish is popular. Insufficient cooking over campfires, tasting and seasoning. Dumping raw sewage into freshwater, lakes contributes to propagation of this tapeworm.

5. TRANSMISSION Diphyllobothriasis is transmitted through faecal -oral- route, by the ingestion of raw or undercooked fish contaminated with diphyllobothrium latum.

6. LIFE CYCLE

7. PATHOGENESIS Diphyllobotherium latum is an obligate parasite. It is found in and around freshwater lakes and streams. Each stage inhabits a different habitat. The eggs inhabits faecal matter from the definitive host, the larvae live first in a copepod and then in the flesh of the fish, and adults inhabit mammalian intestines . The adults are capable of self-fertilization. As the adult tapeworm matures, individual segments called proglottids, break off from the main body of tapeworm and are passed in the faeces. It competes with the host for dietary vitamin B12 resulting in megaloblastic anaemia and neuropathy. Like any other tapeworm, it can cause local inflammation in the intestine as a result of physical presence. It has two intermediate hosts; the copepod (the first intermediate host) and the fish (second intermediate host).

8. CLINICAL SYMPTOMS Most infections are asymptomatic Occasionally, people may complain of; Epigastric pain Abdominal cramping Nausea Vomiting Weight loss

9. DIAGNOSIS Microscopic examination of stool sample for the identification of eggs/segments of the tapeworm. Identification of proglottids past in the stool and staining can also required.

10. TREATMENT,PREVENTION AND CONTROL Treatment Drug of choice; Niclosamide Alternatives; Praziquantel and Paramomycin Vitamin B12 supplementation may be necessary in people with evidence of clinical vitamin B12 deficiency. Prevention and control Avoiding ingestion of raw or undercooked fish Controlling disposal of human waste Promptly treating infections

11. CONCLUSION Diphyllobothrium latum is a cestode (tapeworm) that is better known as the “fishworm”. It can grow up to 30 feet long. Infection is contracted by ingestion of larvae in raw freshwater fish. It causes chronic malabsorption and competes with vitamin B12 in the intestine. Most infections are asymptomatic, complications include intestinal obstruction and gall bladder disease caused by migration proglottids.

12. REFERENCES Garcia, L.S., (2006). Diagnostic Medical Parasitology, fifth ed. American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, DC. John , D.T., Petri Jr., W.A., (2006). Markell and Voge’s Medical Parasitology, ninth ed. Elsevier, Philadelphia . Scholz, T., et al., (2009). Update on the human broad tapeworm (genus Diphylobothrium).