Echinostoma

Echinostoma is a genus of trematodes in the family Echinostomatidae. This genus includes several species that are parasitic on humans and other animals. The most well-known species is Echinostoma revolutum, which can cause the disease echinostomiasis in humans.

Life cycle

The life cycle of Echinostoma involves multiple hosts. The adult worms live in the intestines of the definitive host, where they lay eggs that are passed out in the feces. These eggs are then ingested by a suitable intermediate host, typically a snail. Inside the snail, the eggs hatch into miracidia, which develop into sporocysts and then rediae. The rediae produce cercariae, which leave the snail and encyst on or in a second intermediate host, often a fish or amphibian. When the definitive host eats the second intermediate host, the cercariae excyst in the intestine and mature into adult worms.

Echinostomiasis

Echinostomiasis is a disease caused by infection with Echinostoma species. Humans can become infected by eating raw or undercooked fish or amphibians that are infected with the parasite. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. In severe cases, the infection can cause anemia and malnutrition. Diagnosis is typically made by finding the parasite's eggs in a stool sample. Treatment usually involves antiparasitic drugs such as praziquantel.

Prevention and control

Prevention of echinostomiasis involves proper cooking of fish and amphibians to kill the parasite. Control measures can include treatment of infected individuals to prevent the spread of the parasite, as well as measures to reduce the population of intermediate hosts.